Staff recommends the City Council award a contract for W.O. 25-28: Safe Routes to School Projects, Schedules 1-4, to Askin Construction, LLC, in the amount of $957,200.

W.O. 25-28: Safe Routes to School Projects will improve safety along multi-modal routes at several locations adjacent to elementary and middle schools as recommended by the prioritized list of projects in the Billings Safe Routes to School phase 1 and phase 2 plans.  To obtain better bid pricing as part of a larger project, staff included pedestrian crossings normally bid separately within this bid package.

This project includes the following improvements:

• State Avenue (Orchard Elementary and Riverside Middle School) - New school speed zone, flashers
• State Avenue & Jackson Street (Orchard Elementary and Riverside Middle School) - Pedestrian refuge island, high-visibility crosswalks, accessible pedestrian ramps and signal push buttons, and curb extensions
• State Avenue & Washington Street (Riverside Middle School) - Pedestrian accessible ramps and signal push buttons, high-visibility crosswalk
• Broadwater Avenue & 5th Street West (Broadwater Elementary School) - upgraded school speed zone, high-visibility crosswalks
• Parkhill Drive & 8th Street West (Highland Elementary School) - upgraded school speed zone
• 13th Street West, Lewis Avenue, and 14th Street West (Lewis and Clark Middle School) - new school speed zone, flashers
• Grand Avenue & 13th Street West (Lewis and Clark Middle School) - high-visibility crosswalks
• Lewis Avenue & 13th Street West (Lewis and Clard Middle School) - curb extensions, high-visibility crosswalks
• Lewis Avenue & 14th Street West (Lewis and Clard Middle School) - curb extensions, high-visibility crosswalks
• Rimrock Road & Arvin Road (Poly Drive Elementary) - new school speed zone, flashers, and lane narrowings
• Bench Boulevard & Barrett Road (Medicine Crow Middle School) - rectangular rapid flashing beacon and high-visibility crosswalks

These projects were selected from the project priority list in the Billings Safe Routes to School phase 1 and phase 2 plans.

W.O. 25-28: Safe Routes to School Projects was advertised on May 9, May 16, May 23, and May 30, 2025 in the Yellowstone County News and on the City's website. Bids were opened on June 3, 2025 and three bids were received. Askin Construction, LLC. submitted the lowest, responsible bid.

City Council may:

• Award a contract for W.O. 25-25: Safe Routes to School Projects to Askin Construction, LLC in the amount of $957,200; or,
• Not award a contract and reject all bids. If the project is not approved, the school routes will not be enhanced for improved safety as recommended by the Safe Routes to School plans.

The following bids were received:
 

Contractor	Bid Total for Schedules 1-4
Askin Construction, LLC	$957,200.00
Knife River - Billings	$993,102.50
Weave Construction	$1,383,323.00

The project was budgeted in FY25 using Gas Tax Funds in the amount of $700,000 for Safe Routes to School Projects and $207,000 for Pedestrian Crossings.  Additionally, $100,000 of SMD2 funds budgeted in FY25 for signal upgrades will be used for the project. There are adequate funds to award this project.  Remaining funds will be used for any change orders.