The Fridley City Council voted 4-0 on April 13 to award the Safe Routes to School Improvement Project to JL Theis, with Council Member Luke Cardona absent.
Public Works Director Jim Kosluchar said bids for the project were opened April 6, with JL Theis of Jordan submitting the low bid at $1,072,728.84, or 16.5% below the engineer’s estimate of $1,284,088. The resolution also included a 5% contingency.
The project includes construction of a shared-use trail, ADA improvements and other miscellaneous work at three locations: 61st Avenue from University Avenue East Service Road to West Moore Lake Drive, Seventh Street from 61st Avenue to Mississippi Street, and Commons Park/Fridley Middle School from Seventh Street to Jackson Street.
The project was identified and budgeted in the city’s 2026-30 Capital Investment Program, Kosluchar said, with $1,270,000 identified for construction in 2026. Additional improvements were also identified in the city’s Active Transportation Plan and Safe Routes to School Plan.
Kosluchar said Fridley Public Schools is a crucial multimodal connection that directly benefits students walking or biking to Fridley Middle School and Hayes Elementary. He said the city successfully secured funding for the project in 2024 through the Metropolitan Council Active Transportation Grant program, which requires a 20% local match for grants of up to $1 million.
In addition to the shared-use trail, the project includes enhanced pedestrian crossings at Seventh Street and Mississippi Street, concrete curb-and-gutter improvements, ADA improvements, and minor storm sewer and utility improvements, Kosluchar said.
Bid advertisements were published March 19, and a pre-bid conference was held March 26. Bids were opened April 6.
Kosluchar said nine bids were received and reviewed by the Metropolitan Council Office of Equity and Equal Opportunity.
The city has previously worked with JL Theis, Kosluchar said, when the company served as a subcontractor on the Seventh Street and 57th Avenue trail project in 2022 and 2023.
Contract documents are scheduled to be finalized in April, followed by private utility construction in April and May. Construction could begin as early as May and be completed in July or August, Kosluchar said.
Council Member Ann Bolkcom asked why the project came in under estimate. Kosluchar said he wondered whether it was because there were not many similarly sized projects available this construction season, though he said he was not sure.
“Generally contractors are locking in pricing a year ahead of construction, and so they’re somewhat resilient to the fluctuation that we’ve had in the last couple of months,” Kosluchar said.
Bolkcom also asked whether the project would be done in time for a large celebration planned at Commons Park in July. Kosluchar said the main goal was to complete the area adjacent to the park by then, also noting 49er Day and its parade.
“We’ll see what the contractor’s schedule is,” Kosluchar said.
Council Member Ryan Evanson said the city’s share of the cost would be a little more than $200,000 because most of the project is being funded through grant money. He also noted a bid item for sod and seeding mix, apparently for grass restoration on adjacent properties.
Kosluchar said restoration would be included as part of the project and that mail notices would be sent to residents living next to the work area.
Evanson asked how much coordination staff had done with the school district so students and families could be informed about the improvements. Kosluchar said city staff had been working closely with the district and that the project reflects both school and city priorities.
“It’s been a good partnership,” Kosluchar said. “The school provided us with an easement to cross the north portion of the middle school property, and it’s been a very good relationship.”