Staff recommends the City Council award a contract for W.O. 24-07: Safe Routes to School Projects, to Knife River Billings, in the amount of $355,858.50.

W.O. 24-07: Safe Routes to School Projects will improve safety along multi-modal routes at four separate locations adjacent to elementary schools as recommended by the prioritized list of projects in the 2022 Safe Routes to School Plan.

This project includes the following improvements:

• 19th Street West & Avenue E (Rose Park Elementary) - Curb extensions, accessible pedestrian ramps, high visibility pavement markings, and speed humps.
• 8th Street West & Wyoming Avenue (Broadwater Elementary) - Curb extensions and high visibility pavement markings.
• Jackson Street & Frances Avenue (Orchard Elementary) - Curb extensions and high visibility pavement markings.
• Governors Boulevard & Constitution Avenue (Eagle Cliffs Elementary) - Curb extensions, accessible pedestrian ramps, high visibility pavement markings, new pedestrian push buttons, and traffic signal modifications.

These projects were selected from the high impact project list in the 2022 Billings Safe Routes to School Plan Update.

W.O. 24-07: Safe Routes to School Projects was advertised on December 15, December 22, and December 29, 2023; and January 5 and January 12, 2024 in the Yellowstone County News and on the City's website. Bids were opened on January 16, 2024 and three bids were received. Knife River Billings submitted the lowest, responsible bid.

City Council may:

• Approve W.O. 24-07 Safe Routes to School Projects to Knife River in the amount of $355,858.50; or,
• Not approve a contract and reject all bids. If the project is not approved, the four elementary school routes will not be enhanced for improved safety.

The following bids were received:
 

Contractor	Base Bid
Knife River	$355,858.50
Weave Construction	$394,465.00
Askin Construction	$399,285.00

The project was budgeted in FY24 using SMD2 Funds.  Adequate funds are available to award the project.