2. Meridian Road ProjectMEMORANDUM
February 24,1999
To: Al Thelen, Interim City Manager
From: Jim Hansz, Director of Public ork
Subject: Meridian Road Project
On Monday, Dick Amerman and I met with Jim Weaver of the Missoula District and Lynn
Zanto of the Helena MDT budget office. Also supporting the meeting was Gordon Larson
of Robert Peccia Associates who are designing the project. I asked for the meeting in order
to review the present status of the project in light of the current project cost estimates and
the new rate of accumulation in the Urban Highway Fund since the advent of TEA-21.
In a nutshell:
• Project costs are much better known and the estimates indicate that the City's cost for
storm drainage in the first phase is about $310,000.00. The total estimated storm
drainage cost is roughly $330,000.00 for all three phases. The total project cost for
phase one $4,989,436.00, and the total of all three phases is $6,106,212.00.
• The rate of accumulation into the City's Urban Fund account is such that we can
seriously consider construction of the first phase of the project in 2001. Phases two and
three could be constructed two years thereafter in 2003. The result of this is that the
City could have the entire project completed by 2004. This means that we could have a
completed project by the same year that we had previously anticipated beginning work
on the project.
• Right of way must be acquired as soon as possible, regardless of whether we choose to
move the schedule forward. This is necessary in order to assure this critical task is done
at the lowest overall cost and there are no delays at project start-up. To ensure this is
done ASAP, MDT and the City agree that Peccia shall submit a cost proposal for
performing this work. MDT is seriously over worked in their ROW department and
consultant assistance is necessary.
• By mutual agreement between the City and MDT, phases two and three should be
combined to reduce project overhead cost, and Peccia will be directed to perform this
change of the plans.