Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This ordinance authorizes the Director of Public Service to enter into contract with Strawser Paving Co., Inc. for the Roadway - N 4th Street and E 5th Avenue Bike and Safety Improvements project and to provide payment for construction, construction administration and inspection services.
This contract includes the resurfacing of the existing curb lane along the west side of North 4th Street from Warren Street to Hudson Avenue and the installation of protected bike lanes with an adjacent parking lane. This project also includes the relocation of pedestrian crossing signals and installation of pedestrian islands. At East 5th Avenue it includes resurfacing East 5th Avenue from west of High Street to North 5th Street and revised the current traffic lane configuration along the corridor. This project includes traffic signal modifications in conjunction with the cross-section modifications, 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 2775-2024 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 Highway Safety Improvement Program, accept and expend awarded grant funds, and issue refunds, if necessary, for the Roadway - N 4th Street and E 5th Avenue Bike and Safety Improvements project.
The estimated Notice to Proceed date is August 4, 2025. The project was let by the Office of Support Services through Vendor Services and Bid Express. One bid was received on June 5, 2026, (majority) and tabulated as follows:
Company Name Bid Amount City/State Majority/ODI Certification
Strawser Paving Co., Inc. $1,929,110.27 Columbus, OH Majority
Award is to be made to Strawser Paving Co., Inc. as the lowest responsive and responsible and best bidder for their bid of $1,929,110.27. The amount of construction administration and inspection services will be $173,619.92. The total legislated amount is $2,102,730.19.
Searches in the System for Award Management (Federal) and the Findings for Recovery list (State) produced no findings against Strawser Paving Co., Inc.
The certification of Strawser Paving Co., Inc. and all associated subcontractors was in good standing at the time the bid was awarded.
As part of their bid Strawser Paving Co., Inc. has proposed the following subcontractors to work on the project:
Company Name City/State Majority/ODI Cert.
M.P. Dory Co. Columbus, Ohio MAJ
W.L. Markers, Inc. Columbus, Ohio MAJ
Complete General Construction Company Columbus, Ohio MAJ
JRS Hauling LLC Canal Winchester, Ohio MBE
MPC Trucking LLC New Albany, Ohio MBE
BUDS, Inc. Nashport, Ohio MAJ
2. CONTRACT COMPLIANCE INFORMATION
The contract compliance number for Strawser Paving Co., Inc. is CC-6114 and expires 1/9/27.
3. PRE-QUALIFICATION STATUS
Strawser Paving Co., Inc. 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 the funding for this project is a reimbursable budgeted expense of $1,736,200 within the Federal Transportation Grant Fund, Fund 7765, Grant #G592510 (2025 N 4th and E 5th HSIP 122449). Funds need to be appropriated.
The remaining balance of $366,530.19 is available and appropriated within the Streets and Highways Bond Fund, Fund 7704. A transfer of funds is necessary to align funding for these project expenditures.
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 Ohio Department of Transportation funding award to avoid penalty and to ensure the safety of the traveling public.
Title
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 Strawser Paving Co., Inc. for the Roadway - N 4th Street and E 5th Avenue Bike and Safety Improvements project; to authorize the expenditure of up to $2,102,730.19 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. ($2,102,730.19)
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Service is engaged in the Roadway - N 4th Street and E 5th Avenue Bike and Safety Improvements project; and
WHEREAS, the work for this project consists of the resurfacing of the existing curb lane along the west side of North 4th Street from Warren Street to Hudson Avenue and the installation of protected bike lanes with an adjacent parking lane. This project also includes the relocation of pedestrian crossing signals and installation of pedestrian islands. At East 5th Avenue it includes resurfacing East 5th Avenue from west of High Street to North 5th Street and revised the current traffic lane configuration along the corridor. This project includes traffic signal modifications in conjunction with the cross-section modifications; 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, Strawser Paving Co., Inc. will be awarded the contract for the Roadway - N 4th Street and E 5th Avenue Bike and Safety Improvements project; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Service requires funding to be available for the Roadway - N 4th Street and E 5th Avenue Bike and Safety Improvements 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 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 $2,102,730.19 from the Federal Transportation Grants Fund and the Streets and Highways Bond 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 Strawser Paving Co., to ensure the safety of the travelling public and to meet the requirements of the start date of the Ohio Department of Transportation funding award to avoid penalty, all for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; and now, therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the transfer of $366,530.19, 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 P440104-100040 (Miscellaneous Developments - Vision Zero Action Plan Implementation), Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) to Dept-Div 5912 (Design and Construction), Project P531083-100000 (Roadway - N 4th Street and E 5th Avenue Bike and Safety Improvements), Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) between projects per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 2. 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, 2024, the sum of $1,736,200.00 is appropriated in Fund 7765 (Federal Transportation Grants Fund), Dept-Div 5912 (Design and Construction), Grant G592510 (2025 N 4th and E 5th HSIP 122449), in Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the Director of Public Service be and is hereby authorized to enter into a construction services contract with Strawser Paving Co., Inc., 1595 Frank Road, Columbus, Ohio 43223, for the Roadway - N 4th Street and E 5th Avenue Bike and Safety Improvements project in the amount of up to $1,929,110.27 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 $173,619.92.
SECTION 4. That the expenditure of $1,736,200.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 7765 (Federal Transportation Grants Fund), Dept-Div 5912 (Design and Construction), Grant G592510 (2025 N 4th and E 5th HSIP 122449), in Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 5. That the expenditure of $366,530.19, 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 P531083-100000 (Roadway - N 4th Street and E 5th Avenue Bike and Safety Improvements), in Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 6. 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 7. 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 8. 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 9. 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 10. 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.