Agenda Date: 05/20/2025
Subject:
Title
Resolution 34-2025: Approving a construction contract with Wild at Heart Investments, LLC dba TALL Contracting & Consulting Co. for the Mineral Mobility East Improvements Phase 1 Project, City Project No. 21-39
Body
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From: |
James L. Becklenberg, City Manager |
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Prepared by: |
Brent Soderlin, Director of Public Works & Utilities |
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Brent Thompson, City Engineer |
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Matthew Matuszewski, CIP Manager |
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Kristina Evanoff, Civil Engineer III |
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Presentations: |
Brent Soderlin, Director of Public Works & Utilities Aaron Heumann, Transportation Engineering Manager |
PURPOSE:
Approving a construction contract with Wild at Heart Investments, LLC dba TALL Contracting & Consulting Co. for the Mineral Mobility East Improvements Phase 1 Project, City Project No. 21-39.
LONG-TERM OUTCOME(S) SERVED:
Safe Community; High Quality Governance
DISCUSSION:
The City of Littleton’s Public Works Department advertised for construction bids of the Mineral Mobility East Improvements Phase 1 Project, Project No. 21-39. Bids were opened on March 7, 2025. Seven bids were received, and staff reviewed the bids for fairness and accuracy and selected Wild at Heart Investments, LLC dba TALL Contracting & Consulting Co. (TALL Contracting & Consulting Co.) as the lowest responsive bidder.
Of the seven construction bids received on March 7, the apparent lowest bid at the time of bid opening was submitted by HCG Construction LLC. The city issued a Notice of Intent to Award to HCG Construction LLC, pending several conditions are met including the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) concurrence to award the contract. However, during staff review of the bids, an error was identified in HCG Construction LLC’s bid. Due to the type of bid error, CDOT, in discussion with the Federal Highway Administration, would not provide concurrence to award to HCG Construction LLC. Without CDOT concurrence, the project could not move forward with state and federal grant funding. One option was to reject all the bids received and rebid the project; however, this option was not desirable due to the project delivery timeline and grant deadlines would not facilitate time for a rebidding process. The remaining option was for the city, with concurrence from CDOT, to identify the next lowest and responsive bidder. Therefore, the city issued a notification to HCG Construction LLC that their bid was determined to be non-responsive, and the city was withdrawing the Notice of Intent to Award. The city then moved forward with the next lowest and responsive bidder, TALL Contracting & Consulting Co., of which the contract is presented herein for City Council consideration.
The city has entered into a concurrence to award agreement with CDOT to award TALL Contracting & Consulting Co. the construction contract for the Mineral Mobility East Improvements Phase 1 Project, consisting of multimodal safety and access improvements including enhancing bicycle facilities along Jackass Hill Road and Mineral Avenue, improving High Line Canal Trail crossings, and improving the Mineral Avenue Trail, as further discussed in this memo.
Execution of this contract would authorize the Mineral Mobility East Improvements Phase 1 Project to proceed into construction. Construction is anticipated to begin in late spring 2025, with anticipated completion in fall 2025.
BACKGROUND:
The Mineral Mobility East Improvements Project will provide mobility and safety upgrades to several areas that provide access to the Regional Transportation District (RTD) Mineral Light Rail Station from the east. The project implemented through its associated phases, as further described in this memo, includes providing safety upgrades at the Mineral Avenue and Jackass Hill Road intersection (the most bike-car collision prone intersection in Littleton), upgrading bicycle facilities along Mineral Avenue and Jackass Hill Road, and improving trails and access paths that lead to the Mineral Light Rail Station from the east. This project is part of a larger multimodal program of projects around the Mineral Light Rail Station. Collectively, the projects in this area will make first and last mile connections to transit, provide high-comfort bike and pedestrian facilities between commercial and residential development (existing and planned), and create safer access to recreational amenities. The safety of vulnerable roadway users (pedestrians, cyclists, transit users, the elderly, and those with disabilities) throughout the city is critical to a healthy city and transportation network.
Project Phasing
The Mineral Mobility East Improvements Project and the associated contractor and consultant services were divided into two phases and include the design and construction of the following safety, access, and connectivity improvements. Implementing the project through two phases allowed for the design of the funded Phase 1 to move forward as grant funding was being pursued and secured for Phase 2. Additional funding has been secured for the design and construction of the Phase 2 improvements. Construction of the Phase 1 improvements will be completed through the proposed agreement with TALL Contracting & Consulting Co. presented herein. The Phase 2 design, beginning soon with anticipated completion in late 2025, will be completed by the same consultant that completed design of Phase 1 improvements. Phase 2 construction, anticipated to be completed in 2026, will be accomplished through construction contractor services selected through a future bid and procurement process in early 2026.
Project Improvements
The following section provides an overview of the key Phase 1 and 2 improvements. Alternative development, analysis, and design of the improvements was informed by community and stakeholder engagement between late 2021 and mid-2023.
• High Line Canal Trail Crossings (Phase 1): Two High Line Canal Trail roadway crossings will be improved with this project. The High Line Canal Trail crossing of Mineral Avenue at Peninsula Drive will be improved through the application of new crosswalk pavement markings as well as installation of upgraded traffic and pedestrian signals. The second High Line Canal Trail crossing at Jackass Hill Road, adjacent to the southeast corner of the Jackass Hill Park, will be improved through installation of new crosswalk pavement markings, medians, and Americans with Disability Act (ADA)-compliant curb ramps. The trail crossing improvement at Jackass Hill Road will also include installation of rectangular rapid flashing beacons at the crossing and in advance of the crossing to alert drivers of the presence of pedestrians and bicyclists.
• Jackass Hill Road (Phase 1): The project will reallocate roadway space along Jackass Hill Road between Mineral Avenue and the High Line Canal Trail crossing to narrow the vehicle lanes and provide a buffered bike lane for bicyclists in both directions, which will upgrade the existing bike lanes along this road. The project improvements along Jackass Hill Road will also include modifications of the Curtice Court/Jamison Way intersection to reduce vehicle speeds, to provide protection for bicyclists from turning vehicles, and shorten crossing distances for pedestrians. The project also includes the mill and overlay of Jackass Hill Road between the Mineral Avenue Trail and the High Line Canal Trail. Jackass Hill Road is identified as a bike and pedestrian priority street in the City’s Transportation Master Plan.
• Mineral Avenue (Phase 1): Similarly to the Jackass Hill Road bicycle facility enhancements, the project will also include reallocation of roadway space along Mineral Avenue between Jackass Hill Road and Windemere Street to narrow the vehicle lanes and provide a buffered bike lane for bicyclists, which will upgrade the existing bike lanes along this road. Mineral Avenue is identified as a bike and pedestrian priority street in the City’s Transportation Master Plan.
• Mineral Avenue Trail East Segment (Phase 1): The project will provide safety and accessibility improvements to the eastern portion of the Mineral Avenue Trail, running parallel to and north of Mineral Avenue, between Jackass Hill Road and Peninsula Drive/High Line Canal Trail crossing. The existing trail will be upgraded to a 16-foot paved trail including providing designated space for bicyclists (8-foot, two-way bike path) and pedestrians (7-foot sidewalk), with a one-foot buffer separation between these facilities to reduce conflicts between modes. This path will meet ADA standards and provide year-round access between the RTD Mineral Light Rail Station and neighborhoods to the east. The trail was also designed to reduce impacts to the surrounding environment including the terrain and unique species of existing maturing trees along the trail. South Suburban Parks and Recreation District (SSPRD) maintains the Mineral Avenue Trail. Creating a paved trail allows SSPRD service vehicles to access and clear snow and debris from the trail, therefore, supporting a year-round accessible facility for trail users of all ages and abilities. This segment of the trail that the project is paving is the only remaining unpaved section along the entire 2.5-mile long Mineral Avenue Trail. SSPRD and the Arapahoe County Open Space (ACOS) are contributing funds for the construction of the Phase 1 Mineral Avenue Trail improvements.
• Mineral Avenue Trail West Segment (Phase 2): The project includes improvements to the western segment of the Mineral Avenue Trail between Jackass Hill Road and the RTD Mineral Light Rail Station. Similar to the improvements to the eastern segment of the Mineral Avenue Trail in Phase 1, this western trail segment will also transform into a widened multi-use trail to provide an upgraded and safer transportation facility with designated spaces for pedestrians and bicyclists. Currently, this trail segment is a 10-foot-wide sidewalk and with the project will be expanded to 16 feet to accommodate separate spaces for bicyclists and pedestrians for mode separation and user safety.
• Mineral Avenue and Jackass Hill Road/Long Avenue Intersection (Phase 2): The project includes improvements to the Mineral Avenue and Jackass Hill Road/Long Avenue intersection (the most bike-car collision prone intersection in Littleton). With the project, the intersection will be upgraded to a protected intersection that will provide physical separation for bicyclists and pedestrians as well as modified signal timing to provide an increase in safety and access at this intersection.
External Project Funding
The city was successful in securing several grants and partner funding for both phases 1 and 2 of the project as shown in the following table.
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Funding Source |
External Funding Amount |
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Colorado Department of Transportation Safer Main Streets Grant |
$1,600,000 |
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Denver Regional Council of Governments Transportation Improvements Program Grant |
$2,089,000 |
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Arapahoe County Open Space Grant (for Mineral Avenue Trail construction only) |
$562,500 |
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South Suburban Parks and Recreation District Contribution (for Mineral Avenue Trail construction only) |
$200,000 |
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Total |
$4,451,500 |
The CDOT Safer Main Streets grant will be used to fund the design and construction of Phase 1. The Safer Main Streets grant funds must be expended by December 31, 2025 and all project elements associated with this grant must be constructed by this December 31, 2025 deadline. If the deadline is not met, the grant funds will be forfeited, and any grant funds expended which were previously reimbursed by CDOT would have to be returned to CDOT. The Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) Transportation Improvements Program (TIP) grant will fund Phase 2 design and construction as well as a portion of the Phase 1 construction costs. The ACOS and SSPRD funds are specifically dedicated to funding the construction of the Phase 1 Mineral Avenue Trail improvements. Additional city funds have been used for the local match on Phase 1 design and will be used for the local match on Phase 2 design and construction.
Prior Actions or Discussions
An Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with the Colorado Department of Transportation for design and construction of the Mineral Mobility East Improvements Phase 1 Project was approved by City Council as Resolution 24-2021 on May 4, 2021. A subsequent amendment to the same IGA to add DRCOG TIP funding to the project was approved by City Council as Resolution 15-2024 on February 6, 2024.
An IGA with Arapahoe County Open Space for financial contribution of $562,500 for the construction of the project’s Mineral Avenue Trail improvements was approved by City Council as Resolution 95-2023 on September 5, 2023.
The Professional Services Agreement with David Evans and Associates was executed on September 28, 2021, and amended on January 16, 2023, for the project management, design services, and public outreach tasks associated with Phase 1 of the project. The Agreement was recently amended, approved through Council as Resolution 17-2025 on March 18, 2025, to provide additional scope, fee, and time for the consultants to complete conceptual and final design of Phase 2.
FISCAL IMPACTS:
The proposed construction contract with TALL Contracting & Consulting Co. for the Mineral Mobility East Improvements Phase 1 Project, City Project No. 21-39 is $2,375,653.10. The construction contract will be funded through the sources shown in the following table:
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Funding Source |
Funding Amount |
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CDOT Safer Main Streets Grant & DRCOG TIP Grant |
$1,613,153.10 |
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Arapahoe County Open Space Grant (for Mineral Avenue Trail construction only) |
$562,500.00 |
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South Suburban Parks and Recreation District Contribution (for Mineral Avenue Trail construction only) |
$200,000.00 |
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Total |
$2,375,653.10 |
Pursuant to the City’s Procurement Policy, all contracts exceeding $500,000 must be approved by City Council.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the construction contract.
ALTERNATIVES:
If the construction contract is not approved, the construction of the project will not be completed until funds are available. Leveraging grant funds for projects such as this is critical to complete projects the city would unlikely be able to afford on its own. Forgoing this opportunity would put Littleton at a significant disadvantage in attaining community goals related to safety, transportation, economic development, and quality of life. Not approving this contract, therefore, not moving forward with construction of the project, would also result in forfeiture of State and Federal grant funding as well as forfeiture of the ACOS grant and SSPRD funding contribution, collectively eliminating the opportunity to complete the design and construction of both phases of the project.
Any modifications to the scope of the project, such as removal of an improvement, that deviates from the scope defined in the agreements with CDOT and DRCOG, would also result in forfeiture of the grant funds. Any grant funds applied to previously completed activities such as Phase 1 design would be required to be paid back to CDOT if the full scope of design and construction of the two-phased project is not achieved. Additionally, with the state-funded Safer Main Streets grant’s firm expenditure deadline of December 31, 2025, it is important that the Phase 1 construction continue as scoped and scheduled to avoid forfeiture of grant funding. Ultimately, any of these impacts to the grant funding would also put Littleton at a significant disadvantage competing for and securing future grants.
PROPOSED MOTION:
Proposed Motion
I move to approve Resolution 34-2025 approving a construction contract with Wild at Heart Investments, LLC dba TALL Contracting & Consulting Co. for the Mineral Mobility East Improvements Phase 1 Project, City Project No. 21-39.