Twin Cities light rail project to begin traffic improvements around U of M

Written by jrood

The Metropolitan Council voted to authorize the regional administrator to award and execute a contract with the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, Graham Construction Services, out of seven bidders for advanced traffic improvements in Minneapolis at a cost of $3.6 million. 

Award
of this contract, though, is contingent upon the University of Minnesota granting
a temporary construction easement to enable the contractor to construct some of
the advanced traffic improvements on university property. If the required
easement has not been provided, the regional administrator is directed not to
award and execute the contract without direction from the Met Council. The contract
award is also contingent upon receipt of approval from the Federal Transit Administration
for the work to begin. The FTA granted approval prior to Council action in late
March.

The
Met Council also expects the FTA to approve shortly the project’s entry into
final design. Upon this approval, the Met Council will formally apply for the
Full Funding Grant Agreement, the federal government’s promise to reimburse
project partners for half the $957 million cost of building the line.

The
advanced traffic improvements contract in Minneapolis on and surrounding the university’s
East Bank campus can begin before an FFGA because sufficient funding from local
sources is available. The FTA’s approval to start this work before execution of
an FFGA ensures the eligibility of these expenditures for future federal
funding participation. The contract includes:


Intalling traffic control signals and interconnections.


Removing, milling and overlaying the roadway.


Replacing sidewalks, curbs, gutters, retaining walls and landscaping.


Installing signs, pavement marking, traffic control equipment and related
utilities.

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