College Street upgrade back on Morganton's to-do list

The City of Morganton is on the search for a designer for College Street — a team that can transform about 7,000 linear feet into a more pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly passage.

Morganton issued a request for letters of interest (RFLOI), looking for preliminary engineering services to design curbs and gutters, concrete islands, sidewalks, paving, drainage, bollards, and bike lanes between North Green Street and West Fleming Drive.

“This city began work on this project in 2019,” said Morganton’s Development and Design Director Wendy Smith. “The project purpose is to upfit 1.3 miles of College Street to provide connections for residents and visitors to multiple locations in the city and tie together multiple bike and pedestrian facilities. The project is also intended to reduce the width of the wider sections of the road, to reduce traffic speeds, and to provide for shorter pedestrian crossings to get to downtown and the greenway.”

According to the RFLOI, the design and bidding portion of the contract may take approximately two years from the Notice to Proceed, anticipated in January 2027. The two-year design and bidding process is set by the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), which is funding the majority of the project.

The original arrangement between the city and NCDOT gave NCDOT 80% of the projected $3.3 million in costs, with Morganton covering the other 20%, closer to $660,000.

“Initial design work proposed unexpected extensive underground stormwater drainage, water, and sewer work,” Smith said. “Additionally, during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, North Carolina and the world experienced significant increases in construction costs, with the project estimated at $12 million in 2024.”

With so many moving pieces pushing up prices, the city rescoped, attempting to avoid the underground utility costs associated with the original project.

According to Smith, the city currently has 15% of the plans designed for the new scope, and was awarded Federal Toll Credits grant funding for the shortfall between the city’s originally dedicated amount and the since-incurred costs.

“The RFLOI asks for qualifications to finalize the new project design to 100% design plans,” Smith said. “The total final costs will be negotiated with NCDOT once a firm is selected and any additional costs are expected to be addressed by the Toll Credit funding.”

The city has not ironed out a concrete final cost or how long the project will take beginning to end.

Smith said, “The city will continue to work with NCDOT to finalize plans and develop a construction schedule for the project.”

WHAT TO INCLUDE IN A LETTER

The five selection criteria are weighed equally:

• The firm or team’s experience with roadway projects on local roads and the qualified creative professionals to complete the project scope
• Proof of successful completion on a project of similar size and scope
• References
• Experience with NCDOT/Federal Reimbursement Projects with local government agencies
• Time and availability to put toward the project

Letters will be accepted electronically, by mail, or by hand-delivery until 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15. Emails should be directed to sking@morgantonnc.gov, while mailed letters should be directed to the City of Morganton at P.O. Box 3448, Morganton, NC, 28680.

The city will choose a firm and send notification of selection by Nov. 4.

The full RFLOI can be found at connect.ncdot.gov/letting/Private%20Engineering%20Firm%20Advertisement/EB-5978_CM%20College%20St_PE_RFLOI.pdf.