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AGENDA RECOMMENDATION |
Consent Calendar 6.I.
City Council Regular Meeting
- Meeting Date:
- 07/27/2026
Agenda Item:
Resolution awarding Nielsen Blacktopping and Concrete Inc. as the contractor for the 2026 Bus Stop Improvement Construction Project.
Recommendation/Action(s):
Adoption of the attached resolution.
Summary:
As you recall, Nielsen Blacktopping & Concrete, Inc. was selected as low bid, pending negotiations to align with available funds. Price negotiation is part of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR 15.405).
Transit value engineered the project to ensure maximum benefit for transit system customers. This project will affect 35 bus stops, increasing the system's accessibility and Americans with Disabilities Act compliance.
Base Bid plus Alternate.
Initially programmed in the CIP as a 2025 project, the needed level of planning and engineering caused the project to be delayed. Bidding this late in the season is driving higher costs.
The construction project supports the Strategic Goal 2: Sustainable Infrastructure through well-maintained transportation assets and increased ridership of the transit system.
Background:
Mankato Transit System’s Bus Stop Improvements Project addresses the disability access for the fixed-route transit stops in the urbanized area, such as lack of landing pad space to accommodate extendable/retractable bus ramps, and connections to sidewalks. This project systematically addresses the concerns identified in both the 2018 and 2023 Transit Development Plan and 2023 Mankato/North Mankato Area Planning Organization’s Americans with Disability Act Transition Plan. The plan identified Transit as being 7% compliant. Through the efforts of the 2024 construction project, Transit is 55.8% compliant.
Minnesota Olmstead Plan, which ensures that disabled Minnesotans live full, integrated lives in their chosen community, set transportation goals which are supported by the project.
The Bus Stop Improvement Project also addresses the lack of access to the bus system by providing additional stops that are generally 1/4 mile apart or a 5-minute walk. Staff identified additional stops that would add value to the system and improve access. These additional stops are along the fiscally constrained routes identified in the Transit Development Plan.
The consultant, ISG, provided planning, design, engineering, and construction administration for the 2025 Bus Stop Improvement Project. The bus stops are on the public right of way – sidewalk, curb and gutter, and grass area separating the sidewalk from the street.
Transit value engineered the project to ensure maximum benefit for transit system customers. This project will affect 35 bus stops, increasing the system's accessibility and Americans with Disabilities Act compliance.
Base Bid plus Alternate.
- $385,335 Engineer's Estimate
- $407,668 Nielsen Blacktopping & Concrete Inc.
| Project Description | Project Cost | Federal | State | Local |
| Bus Stop Improvement Project (2025) (Agreement # 1059900 |
$375,000 | $300,000 | $37,500 | $37,500 |
| Unliquidated Federal Funds (MN-2024-012-01) |
$27,659 | $22,127 | $5,532 | |
| Bus Stop Maintenance | $5,009 | $5,009 | ||
| Funds Available | $407,668 | $322,127 | $37,500 | $48,041 |
Initially programmed in the CIP as a 2025 project, the needed level of planning and engineering caused the project to be delayed. Bidding this late in the season is driving higher costs.
The construction project supports the Strategic Goal 2: Sustainable Infrastructure through well-maintained transportation assets and increased ridership of the transit system.
Background:
Mankato Transit System’s Bus Stop Improvements Project addresses the disability access for the fixed-route transit stops in the urbanized area, such as lack of landing pad space to accommodate extendable/retractable bus ramps, and connections to sidewalks. This project systematically addresses the concerns identified in both the 2018 and 2023 Transit Development Plan and 2023 Mankato/North Mankato Area Planning Organization’s Americans with Disability Act Transition Plan. The plan identified Transit as being 7% compliant. Through the efforts of the 2024 construction project, Transit is 55.8% compliant.
Minnesota Olmstead Plan, which ensures that disabled Minnesotans live full, integrated lives in their chosen community, set transportation goals which are supported by the project.
The Bus Stop Improvement Project also addresses the lack of access to the bus system by providing additional stops that are generally 1/4 mile apart or a 5-minute walk. Staff identified additional stops that would add value to the system and improve access. These additional stops are along the fiscally constrained routes identified in the Transit Development Plan.
The consultant, ISG, provided planning, design, engineering, and construction administration for the 2025 Bus Stop Improvement Project. The bus stops are on the public right of way – sidewalk, curb and gutter, and grass area separating the sidewalk from the street.