Staff is requesting that the City Council consider authorizing and executing Contract Amendment No. 3 for Professional Services with Sanderson Stewart Engineering to evaluate the construction feasibility of an alternate route of the Inner Belt Loop.  Phase I of the Inner Belt Loop was constructed in 2014 from Wicks Lane to Alkali Creek Road.  The existing Phase II alignment begins at Alkali Creek Road and terminates at the Zimmerman Trail/Hwy 3 intersection.  Under this contract, Sanderson Stewart will determine the feasibility of constructing along an alternate route from the current terminus of the Inner Belt Loop at Alkali Creek Road to Highway 3.  This alignment would run along the western edge of the Billings Logan International Airport.  

The original contract with Sanderson Stewart was to design and bid the Inner Belt Loop from Wicks Lane to the Highway 3/Zimmerman Trail intersection.  Contract Amendment No. 1 separated the route into two phases. This required minor changes to the plans and specifications so the contracts could bid separately.  Contract Amendment No. 2 was for construction administration services for the Phase I construction completed in 2014. This amendment includes analyzing the corridor and finding an alternative constructible route. 

City Council may:

• Approve Contract Amendment No. 3  with Sanderson Stewart to analyze the constructability of the alternate route, or;
• Disapprove Contract Amendment No. 3.  If Council does not approve the Contract Amendment No. 3 with Sanderson Stewart, the construction feasibility of the alternate route will not be completed.  

Funds for Contract Amendment No. 3 are available from Arterial Fee Funds budgeted in FY17.  If approved, the Professional Services Contract with Sanderson Stewart will increase by $48,000 to a total of $913,100.00.

Staff recommends that Council authorize Contract Amendment No. 3 with Sanderson Stewart in the amount of $48,000.00.