Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This ordinance authorizes the Director of Public Service to enter into contract with Axis Civil Construction LLC for the Pedestrian Safety - FRA-SRTS Sunbury/Agler project and to provide payment for construction, construction administration and inspection services.
This contract includes sidewalk installation along the east side of Sunbury Road, from Agler Road to the existing sidewalk to the north and on both the east and west sides of North Cassady Avenue from Agler Road to the existing sidewalks to the north. A shared use path will be installed along the south side of Agler Road from Sunbury Road to the existing shared use path to the east of Agler Road, and other work as may be necessary to complete the contract in accordance with the plans and specifications set forth in the Bid Submittal Documents.
Ordinance 0455-2022 authorized the Director of Public Service, on behalf of the City of Columbus, to submit applications to and execute grant agreements with the Ohio Department of Transportation relative to the Safe Routes to School Program, accepted and expended awarded grant funds, and issued refunds, if necessary, for the Pedestrian Safety - FRA-SRTS Sunbury/Agler.
The estimated Notice to Proceed date is July 15, 2026. The project was let by the Office of Support Services through Vendor Services and Bid Express. Three bids were received on May 12, 2026, (all majority) and tabulated as follows:
Company Name Bid Amount City/State Majority/ODI Certification
Axis Civil Construction LLC $1,684,426.20 Gahanna, OH MAJ
Danbert, Inc. $1,842,053.72 Plain City, OH MAJ
Strawser Paving Company $2,030,004.18 Columbus, OH MAJ
Award is to be made to Axis Civil Construction LLC as the lowest responsive and responsible and best bidder for their bid of $1,684,426.20. The amount of construction administration and inspection services will be $185,286.88. The total legislated amount is $1,869,713.08.
Searches in the System for Award Management (Federal) and the Findings for Recovery list (State) produced no findings against Axis Civil Construction LLC.
As part of their bid Axis Civil Construction LLC has proposed the following subcontractors to work on the project:
Company Name City/State Majority/ODI Certification
Danbert Electrical Corporation Plain City, Ohio MAJ
Griffin Pavement Striping, LLC Columbus, Ohio MAJ
Dresden Landscaping, LTD. Dresden, Ohio MAJ
A & A Safety, Inc. Amelia, Ohio MAJ
CAP-STONE & Associates, Inc. Columbus, Ohio WBE
M.P. Dory Co. Cincinnati, Ohio MAJ
First Star Safety, LLC Columbus, Ohio MAJ
2. CONTRACT COMPLIANCE INFORMATION
The contract compliance number for Axis Civil Construction LLC is 029566 and expires 1/29/28.
3. PRE-QUALIFICATION STATUS
Axis Civil Construction LLC and all proposed subcontractors have met code requirements with respect to pre-qualification, pursuant to relevant sections of Columbus City Code Chapter 329.
4. FISCAL IMPACT
A portion of this project is a reimbursable budgeted expense of $400,000.00 within the Federal Transportation Grants Fund, Fund 7765, Grant G592603 (2026 FRA-SRTS Sunbury/Agler 117479). Funds need to be appropriated.
The remaining balance of $1,469,713.08 is a budgeted expense within the Streets and Highways Bond Fund, Fund 7704. An amendment to the 2025 Capital Improvement Budget is necessary to establish sufficient cash and authority with the proper project. The funds are appropriated.
5. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested in order to complete needed improvements at the earliest possible time and meet the requirements of the start date for the MORPC Attributable Funds Program to avoid penalty and to ensure the safety of the travelling public.
Title
To amend the 2025 Capital Improvement budget; to authorize the transfer of funds within the Streets and Highways Bond Fund; to appropriate funds within the Federal Transportation Grants Fund; to authorize the Director of Public Service to enter into contract with Axis Civil Construction, LLC for the Pedestrian Safety - Safe Routes To School Sunbury Road/Agler Road project; to authorize the expenditure of up to $1,869,713.08 from the Streets and Highways Bond Fund and the Federal Transportation Grants Fund for the project; to repay any unused grant funds at the end of the grant period; and to declare an emergency. ($1,869,713.08)
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Service is engaged in the Pedestrian Safety - FRA-SRTS Sunbury/Agler project; and
WHEREAS, the work for this project consists of sidewalk installation along the east side of Sunbury Road, from Agler Road to the existing sidewalk to the north and on both the east and west sides of North Cassady Avenue from Agler Road to the existing sidewalks to the north. A shared use path will be installed along the south side of Agler Road from Sunbury Road to the existing shared use path to the east of Agler Road; and other work as may be necessary to complete the contract in accordance with the plans and specifications set forth in the Bid Submittal Documents; and
WHEREAS, Axis Civil Construction LLC will be awarded the contract for the Pedestrian Safety - FRA-SRTS Sunbury/Agler project; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Service requires funding to be available for the Pedestrian Safety - FRA-SRTS Sunbury/Agler project for construction expense along with construction administration and inspection services; and
WHEREAS, Federal Transportation grant funds will be used to pay for a portion of this project; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to amend the 2025 Capital Improvement Budget to establish authority within the correct project; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary for Council to authorize a transfer of funds within Fund 7704, the Streets and Highways Bond Fund, to establish sufficient cash to pay for the project; and
WHEREAS, funds must be appropriated within the Federal Transportation Grants Fund; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize an expenditure of up to $1,869,713.08 from the Streets and Highways Bond Fund and the Federal Transportation Grants Fund for this contract; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Service in that it is immediately necessary to enter into contract with Axis Civil Construction LLC to ensure the safety of the travelling public, and to avoid penalty under MORPC rules, for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the 2025 Capital Improvements Budget authorized by ordinance 1790-2025 be amended as follows to establish sufficient authority for this project:
Fund / Project / Project Name / Current / Change /C.I.B. as Amended
7704 / P590105-100000 / Pedestrian Safety Improvements (Voted Carryover) / $0.00 / $22,081.00 / $22,081.00 (to match cash)
7704 / P590105-100000 / Pedestrian Safety Improvements (Voted Carryover) / $22,081.00 / ($22,081.00) / $0.00
7704 / P590105-100005 / Pedestrian Safety Improvements - Sidewalks - City Sidewalk Repairs (Voted Carryover) / $360,709.00 / ($360,709.00) / $0.00
7704 / P590105-100115 / Pedestrian Safety Improvements - Third Avenue Sidewalks (Voted Carryover) / $62,636.00 / ($62,636.00) / $0.00
7704 / P590105-100445 / Pedestrian Safety Improvements - SRTS Souder Avenue Bike Lanes (Voted Carryover) / $80,000.00 / ($80,000.00) / $0.00
7704 / P590105-100450 / Pedestrian Safety Improvements - Walford St, Sharbot Dr, and Northtowne (Voted Carryover) / $14,271.00 / ($14,271.00) / $0.00
7704 / P530163-100024 / SSC - Program Management and System Engineering (Voted Carryover) / $16,837.00 / ($16,837.00) / $0.00
7704 / P530163-100015 / SSC - Multimodal Trip Planning (Voted Carryover) / $6,230.00 / ($6,230.00) / $0.00
7704 / P540004-100000 / Asset Information Management System (Voted Carryover) / $465.00 / ($465.00) / $0.00
7704 / P531080-100000 / Roadway - LinkUS - Main Category (Voted Carryover) / $5,575,000.00 / ($354,882.00) / $5,220,118.00
7704 / P531024-100006 / Roadway - LinkUS - NW Corridor - Bus Rapid Transit (Voted Carryover) / $1,750,000.00 / ($551,604.00) / $1,198,396.00
7704 / P590105-100473 / Pedestrian Safety Improvements - FRA-SRTS - Sunbury/Agler (Voted Carryover) / $0.00 / $1,469,715.00 / $1,469,715.00
SECTION 2. That the transfer of $16,837.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized within Fund 7704 (Streets and Highways Bond Fund), from Dept-Div 5912 (Design and Construction), Project P530163-100024 (SSC - Program Management and System Engineering), Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) to Dept-Div 5912 (Design and Construction), Project P590105-100473 (Pedestrian Safety Improvements - FRA-SRTS - Sunbury/Agler), Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) between projects per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the transfer of $6,229.11, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized within Fund 7704 (Streets and Highways Bond Fund), from Dept-Div 5912 (Design and Construction), Project P530163-100015 (SSC - Multimodal Trip Planning), Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) to Dept-Div 5912 (Design and Construction), Project P590105-100473 (Pedestrian Safety Improvements - FRA-SRTS - Sunbury/Agler), Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) between projects per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That the transfer of $465.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized within Fund 7704 (Streets and Highways Bond Fund), from Dept-Div 5912 (Design and Construction), Project P540004-100000 (Asset Information Management System), Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) to Dept-Div 5912 (Design and Construction), Project P590105-100473 (Pedestrian Safety Improvements - FRA-SRTS - Sunbury/Agler), Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) between projects per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 5. That the transfer of $354,881.86, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized within Fund 7704 (Streets and Highways Bond Fund), from Dept-Div 5912 (Design and Construction), Project P531080-100000 (Roadway - LinkUS - Main Category), Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) to Dept-Div 5912 (Design and Construction), Project P590105-100473 (Pedestrian Safety Improvements - FRA-SRTS - Sunbury/Agler), Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) between projects per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 6. That the transfer of $551,603.40, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized within Fund 7704 (Streets and Highways Bond Fund), from Dept-Div 5913 (Traffic Management), Project P531024-100006 (Roadway - LinkUS - NW Corridor - Bus Rapid Transit), Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) to Dept-Div 5912 (Design and Construction), Project P590105-100473 (Pedestrian Safety Improvements - FRA-SRTS - Sunbury/Agler), Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) between projects per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 7. That from the unappropriated monies and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purpose during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2026, the sum of $400,000.00 is appropriated in Fund 7765 (Federal Transportation Grants Fund), Dept-Div 5912 (Design and Construction), Project G592603 (2026 FRA-SRTS Sunbury/Agler 117479), in Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 8. That the Director of Public Service be and is hereby authorized to enter into a construction services contract with Axis Civil Construction LLC, 1196 Technology Drive, Gahanna, Ohio 43230, for the Pedestrian Safety Improvements - FRA-SRTS - Sunbury/Agler project in the amount of up to $1,684,426.20 in accordance with the specifications and plans on file in the Office of Support Services, which are hereby approved; and to pay for necessary construction administration and inspection costs associated with the project up to a maximum of $185,286.88.
SECTION 9. That the expenditure of $400,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 7765 (Federal Transportation Grants Fund), Dept-Div 5912 (Design and Construction), Project G592603 (2026 FRA-SRTS Sunbury/Agler 117479), in Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 10. That the expenditure of $753,651.74, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 7704 (Streets and Highways Bond Fund), Dept-Div 5912 (Design and Construction), Project P590105-100072 (Pedestrian Safety Improvements - FRA-SRTS - Sunbury/Agler), in Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 11. That the expenditure of $716,061.34, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 7704 (Streets and Highways Bond Fund), Dept-Div 5911 (Infrastructure Management), Project P590105-100072 (Pedestrian Safety Improvements - FRA-SRTS - Sunbury/Agler), in Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 12. That funds are hereby deemed appropriated and expenditures and transfers authorized to carry out the purposes of this ordinance and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 13. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all contracts or contract modifications associated with this ordinance.
SECTION 14. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized to transfer the unencumbered balance in a project account to the unallocated balance account within the same fund upon receipt of certification by the Director of the Department administering said project that the project has been completed and the monies are no longer required for said project.
SECTION 15. That at the end of the grant period, any repayment of unencumbered balances required by the grantor is hereby authorized and any unused City match monies may be transferred back to the City fund from which they originated in accordance with all applicable grant agreements.
SECTION 16. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.