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TO: Mayor John Laesch and City Council
FROM: Kevin Anderson, P.E., P.T.O.E., Traffic Engineer
DATE: April 27, 2026
SUBJECT:
A Resolution authorizing the execution of a Phase 1 Preliminary Engineering Agreement with Baxter & Woodman, Inc. in the amount not to exceed $130,063.50 and the appropriation of $130,063.50 for the Bilter Road Highway Safety Improvement Program Project.
PURPOSE:
To approve the above referenced Engineering Services Agreement and to appropriate Capital Improvement funds.
BACKGROUND:
The project applied for Federal funding in FY 2027 Local Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) Call for Candidate Projects in June 2025. The application proposed to improve the safety of Bilter Road from the Illinois Prairie Path crossing to the I-88 Westbound ramps by adding high friction treatments along the curves and by installing rectangular rapid flashing beacon for the Illinois Prairie Path crossing. Refer to Exhibit 'B' for the Location Map. These improvements are expected to reduce the number of crashes including roadway and lane departure crashes and will reduce the risk of crashes involving pedestrians and bicyclists. The friction treatment component is a pilot project for the City. In October 2025, IDOT committed $1,620,000 in Federal Local HSIP funds that will cover up to 90% of Phase II Engineering, Construction, and Construction Engineering.
DISCUSSION:
Due to the complex nature of the project, the City is required to hire a consultant for the Phase 1 Preliminary Engineering Services.
The City published a Qualification Based Selection (QBS) for Phase 1 Engineering Services on January 29, 2026. Six (6) firms submitted their qualifications. Staff reviewed the qualifications submitted and determined that Baxter & Woodman, Inc. (B&W) was the most qualified with the top 3 firm's scores attached as Exhibit 'C'. Exhibit ‘C’ also has a breakdown of the selection criteria and weighting and the score breakdowns in each category. Baxter & Woodman has worked with the City on similar projects before. The most recently completed project was the design of the traffic signal installation at Montgomery Road and Kautz Road. The QBS includes a City option to continue with the selected consultant for Phase 2 Design Engineering.
The Phase 1 Engineering Agreement (BLR 05530) from B&W in the amount of $130,063.50 is attached as Exhibit 'A'.
B&W's Letter of Good Standing is attached as Exhibit 'D'.
This followed the Request for Qualifications process and is not subject to the local preference policy.
The 2026 City Budget provides money for this item in Account 340-4060-431.73-99 (GB175, Roadway Safety Improvements),
IMPACT STATEMENT:
No impact.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Please forward this to the Infrastructure and Technology Committee for approval."
cc: Infrastructure and Technology Committee
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
RESOLUTION NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
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A Resolution authorizing the execution of a Phase 1 Preliminary Engineering Agreement with Baxter & Woodman, Inc. in the amount not to exceed $130,063.50 and the appropriation of $130,063.50 for the Bilter Road Highway Safety Improvement Program 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 seeks to improve the safety of Bilter Road; and
WHEREAS, IDOT committed $1,620,000 in Federal Local HSIP funds that will cover up to 90% of Phase II Engineering, Construction, and Construction Engineering; and
WHEREAS, the City published a Qualifications Based Selection (QBS) for the Phase 1 Engineering services on January 29, 2026, with an option to utilize the same firm for Phase 2 Engineering. Six (6) firms submitted their qualifications and experiences; and
WHEREAS, there is a need to execute and engineering services agreement with Baxter & Woodman, Inc., 8678 Ridgefield Road, Crystal Lake, IL 60012, to complete the Phase 1 Engineering services for a total cost not to exceed $130,063.50, a copy of which agreement is attached hereto and incorporated herein as Exhibit 'A'; and
WHEREAS, there is a need to appropriate Capital Improvement funds for this agreement in the amount of $130,063.50; and
WHEREAS, the 2026 City Budget provides money for this item in Account 340-4060-431.73-99 (GB175, Roadway Safety Improvements), with any additional funds to be budgeted in future years, if needed.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows: that the Engineering Agreement with Baxter & Woodman, Inc. attached to this Resolution as Exhibit 'A' in the amount not to exceed one hundred thirty thousand sixty-three and 50/100 dollars ($130,063.50) shall be and hereby approved; 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.