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TO: Mayor John Laesch and City Council
FROM: Tim Weidner, PE, Engineering Coordinator
DATE: November 12, 2026
SUBJECT:
A Resolution authorizing the execution of a Joint Funding Agreement with the State of Illinois, the execution of a Phase 2 Design Engineering Agreement with Alfred Benesch and Company in the not to exceed amount of $1,746,203, and the appropriation of $260,000 of REBUILD Illinois Bond Funds for the New York Street Bridge Project.
PURPOSE:
To execute the Joint Funding Agreement PE/ROW for State-Let Construction Projects, thereby reserving sufficient funds to cover the local agency share of the project cost by resolution, to approve the Phase 2 Local Public Agency Engineering Services Agreement with Alfred Benesch and Company, and to Appropriate REBUILD Illinois Bond Funds by Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) Resolution.
BACKGROUND:
The existing New York Street Bridge over the Fox River (SN 045-0012) is a historic nine span open spandrel concrete arch bridge with two approach spans. The bridge was originally constructed circa 1931 and rehabilitated in the early 1990s. The bridge ratings are low enough where the project is eligible for federal funds. This federal funding source is Local Bridge Formula Program (LBFP), previously known as STP-Bridge (STP-Br), and all engineering phases of the project and construction are eligible for federal funding at an 80/20 split (80% Federal, 20% Local). The Construction portion local match is anticipated to be funded by awarded State Local Project Funding.
The Phase 1 study of this project was started in September 2022 by Alfred Benesch & Company (Benesch) in an agreement approved by City Council (22-246). Design Approval is anticipated later this year. More information including exhibits can be found at the project website:
https://www.aurora.il.us/Government-and-Engagement/Current-City-Projects/New-York-Street-Bridge-Project.
DISCUSSION:
The City published a Qualifications Based Selection (QBS) for these Phase 1 Engineering services with responses opened on June 3, 2022. Seven (7) firms submitted their qualifications and experience. Staff reviewed the qualifications and determined that Alfred Benesch and Company (Benesch) of Chicago, IL was the most qualified with the top 3 firm's scores attached as Exhibit D. Exhibit D also has a breakdown of the selection criteria and weighting. The QBS allows the City to utilize the same consultant for Phase 2 Design Engineering. Staff is recommending continuing work with Benesch for the Phase 2 Design Engineering.
The attached Phase 2 Design Engineering Agreement (BLR 05530) from Benesch in the amount of $1,746,203.00 noted as Exhibit B will provide Phase 2 Design Engineering Services.
This followed the Request for Qualifications process and is not subject to the Local Preference Policy. The funding source, federal, state, and REBUILD Illinois Bond Funds, is not subject to the Local Preference Policy.
$1,500,000 of REBUILD Illinois Bond Funds were previously authorized for this Phase 2 Design Engineering work on June 24, 2025 (R25-221). The City is now ready to enter into a Phase 2 Design Engineering Agreement and needs to authorize REBUILD Illinois Bond Funds only in the amount to cover the overage in the final Agreement cost. The requested REBUILD Illinois Bond Funds amount is slightly above the total required to cover any potential changes to the final contract amount by IDOT and include a small contingency for any out of scope items encountered in the design process.
The total construction cost of this project is estimated at $17,600,000 with construction engineering estimated to be $1,760,000. Federal funding is anticipated to be awarded in an amount not to exceed $15,488,000 for Construction and Construction Engineering (80% of estimated cost). The City has also been awarded $3,872,000 (20%) in State funding from the 2024 Local Project Funding (LPF) program. These State funds will cover the City's local share of the project, so the only anticipated City obligation will be for any costs above the initial estimate or any items determined to be non-participatory. The City will still have to front-fund construction engineering as is required on most federally funded projects, and that will be brought as a separate resolution when the time comes.
For the Phase 2 Engineering portion of the project, federal funds are an 80/20 split as a reimbursable program. The attached Joint Funding Agreement PE/ROW for State-Let Construction Projects (BLR 05310PE) is shown as Exhibit A and will need to be executed to utilize those funds. The City will front-fund engineering costs and will be reimbursed 80% of the costs up to the maximum amounts in the particular funding source. The City’s final share of the Phase 2 Engineering costs is anticipated to be $349,241.00.
Due to the extensive agreement processing time by IDOT, staff anticipate utilizing Section 1440 processing to start the project as soon as possible. A traditional agreement approval process by IDOT takes 6 months to over a year to get the notice to proceed to kick start Phase 1 or 2 engineering services while current Section 1440 processes allows the local agency to get started with preliminary engineering services prior to Federal/State authorization of the Phase 2 engineering funds. The Section 1440 process is currently under review at the federal level, and changes to the program are expected. Whatever changes are made to the program, staff anticipate beginning the Phase 2 engineering as soon as possible knowing the City will need to wait to ask for reimbursement until the agreements are reviewed & executed by IDOT. Currently, both Exhibit A and Exhibit B are drafts that are under review by IDOT or will be reviewed by IDOT in the future. Since City has opted for Section 1440 (or similar as the program potentially changes) processing, these attachments will need to be executed by City to start the Phase 2 engineering services. If the forms are amended by IDOT or CBLRS (Central Office), the Mayor and City Clerk will execute the most current forms.
IDOT requires a Resolution to Appropriate the REBUILD Illinois Bond Funds prior to their expenditure for approved projects. The Resolution for Improvement - BLR 09110 (Exhibit C) appropriating REBUILD Illinois Bond Funds in the amount of $260,000.00 is attached. The resolution amount is only the portion above the previously authorized REBUILD funds. This total amount is higher than the anticipated City share in order to cover front-funding the full Design Engineering cost.
Alfred Benesh and Company is in Good Standing with the City with verification attached as Exhibit E.
The project is anticipated to be let in 2028 with construction commencing in 2029.
The 2027 City Budget is anticipated to provide sufficient funds in Account 202-4060-431.76-53 (G021, New York Street Bridge). Engineering likely won't begin until December 2026 once FHWA authorization is given to proceed. There is money in the 2026 City Budget if needed.
IMPACT STATEMENT:
No impact.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Please forward this to Finance Committee for approval.
cc: Finance Committee
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
RESOLUTION NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
title
A Resolution authorizing the execution of a Joint Funding Agreement with the State of Illinois, the execution of a Phase 2 Design Engineering Agreement with Alfred Benesch and Company in the not to exceed amount of $1,746,203, and the appropriation of $260,000 of REBUILD Illinois Bond Funds for the New York Street Bridge Project.
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WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has a population of more than 25,000 persons and is, therefore, a home rule unit under subsection (a) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution of 1970; and
WHEREAS, subject to said Section, a home rule unit may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs for the protection of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, the City intends to improve the New York Street bridge over the Fox River due to its current deterioration. The project has a State Job No: D-91-192-22; Project No: HIEJ(657) and MFT Section No: 22-00348-00-BR; and
WHEREAS, the project has been awarded Local Bridge Formula Program (LBFP) funding for all phases of the project including this Phase 2 Engineering phase; and
WHEREAS, the use of federal and state funds requires the City to execute the Joint Funding Agreement PE/ROW for State-Let Construction Projects with the State of Illinois (IDOT), a copy of which draft agreement is attached hereto and incorporated herein as Exhibit A; and
WHEREAS, the City has performed a Qualification Based Selection (QBS) to select the most qualified consultant to perform Phase 2 Design Engineering services for this project. There is a need to execute a Phase 2 Design Engineering Agreement with Alfred Benesch and Company 35 W Wacker Dr, Suite 3300, Chicago, IL 60601 in the amount of $1,746,203.00, a copy of which draft agreement is attached hereto and incorporated herein as Exhibit B; and
WHEREAS pursuant to Section 1440 of the Fast Act, the City must wait to ask for federal reimbursement of engineering services until Exhibit A and Exhibit B are reviewed & executed by IDOT; and
WHEREAS, the City has previously appropriated $1,500,000 of REBUILD Illinois Bond Funds for this project; and
WHEREAS, there is a need to appropriate REBUILD Illinois Bond Funds (MFT Section # 22-00348-00-BR) funds for this project in the amount of $260,000.00, a copy of which resolution is attached for approval as Exhibit C; and
WHEREAS, Alfred Benesch and Company is in good standing with the City; and
WHEREAS, the City of Aurora fiscal year 2027 Budget is anticipated to provide sufficient funds in Account 202-4060-431.76-53 (G021, New York Street Bridge).
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows: that the Joint Funding Agreement PE/ROW for State-Let Construction Projects with the State of Illinois in substantially the same form as attached to this Resolution as Exhibit A shall be and hereby is approved; and further
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Phase 2 Design Engineering Agreement with Alfred Benesch and Company in substantially the same form as attached to this Resolution as Exhibit B in the not to exceed amount of one million seven hundred forty-six thousand two hundred three and 00/100 dollars ($1,746,203.00), subject to modification by IDOT review, shall be and hereby is approved; and further
BE IT RESOLVED, that two hundred sixty thousand and 00/100 dollars ($260,000.00) of available REBUILD Illinois Bond Funds, Motor Fuel Tax Section Number 22-00348-00-BR shall be and hereby is appropriated for the purposes set forth in this resolution; and further
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Mayor and the Clerk respectively, shall be and hereby are directed to execute all the aforementioned documents on behalf of the City and any other documents required to carry the purposes of this resolution into execution, including, but not limited to the document entitled “Resolution for Improvement Under the Illinois Highway Code, Form (BLR 09110)” attached to this Resolution as Exhibit C.