Professional Services Contract Amendment with Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. - Link Bus Rapid Transit Project - Project No. J8707
October 5, 2026
Public Works
Consent Agenda
Steve Sampson Brown
Authorizing a contract amendment with Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. in the amount of $1,417,717.20 for additional consultant construction management services for the Link Rapid Transit Project - Project No. J8707.
The Link BRT Project is a 2.8 mile bus rapid transit (BRT) route along 2nd St SW. Service will connect downtown Rochester, the Mayo Civic Center, Mayo Clinic campuses, and the Rochester-Olmsted Government Center. The Link BRT system is a transformative transportation investment designed to enhance mobility, ease congestion, and support the continued growth of Rochester. By providing fast, fare-free, and reliable transit service, with 12 stops located along the corridor. Link will serve an estimated 11,000 commuters, residents, and visitors per day, strengthening downtown Rochester’s accessibility and economic vitality.
In April 2024, the Council authorized a contract with Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. for Construction Management Services as a professional services agreement to review design documents, construction plans and specifications, provide field construction management services of contractors, and close-out activities as part of overseeing the project's delivery. The original project budget for construction management services was based on a schedule that anticipated bidding in 2024, construction and revenue service occurring in 2025–2026, and project closeout in 2027; however, the current timeline now extends construction, testing, and field services into 2027, with closeout likely continuing into 2028.
The contract amendment is needed for several reasons. During 2024 and early 2025, construction services staff were required to support several out of scope efforts—including multiple bid openings for the same contract, a value engineering exercise, providing technical engineering QA/QC support to ensure FTA requirements were being met, multi-state bidder solicitation marketing, and third-party construction cost estimating which resulted in higher than budged pre-construction costs. In order to ensure a successful bidding and contract award process during the precontract award phase, technical personnel were engaged at levels exceeding the contract budget estimate. The expansion of construction from two seasons to three (2025–2027) has further proportionally increased costs for field inspection, contract administration, construction management, safety management, and construction field staking. During the construction phase, City staff also requested Kimley-Horn add additional technical support to ensure FTA grant agreement compliance, mechanical/electrical/plumbing engineering support for shop drawing review that expedited technical conflict resolution, provide a construction safety orientation to all site workers to ensure site safety compliance, and temporary traffic control monitoring software procurement. These factors have resulted in the need for contract amendment of $1,417,717.20.
The construction projects and implementation of Link Rapid Transit observes the Council's strategic priority of Affordable Living which includes transportation options and access. The Citywide DEI Goal of Community Connection and Engagement, supporting racial and socio-economic equity for our community by creating and supporting accessible public transportation. Downtown Rochester Link Rapid Transit is consistent with and supported by policies and guidance from: Downtown Master Plan (2010); DMC Development Plan (2014); Rochester Transit Development Plan (2017); Rochester 2040 Compressive Plan; Planning to Succeed (2018); and, Integrated Transportation Study Acceptance (2018). Specific key policy considerations are as follows:
- Expansion of transit services through the identification and inclusion of transportation goals.
- Support the City’s greenhouse gas reduction and transportation mode shift goals.
- Increased accessibility and social-economic equity by helping transit dependent households move around our community safely. LINK BRT is currently planned to be fare free to allow maximum access and efficiency.
- Establishment of alternative modes of transportation.
- Communication strategies that educate community members on these alternative transportation modes.
February 5, 2019: DMCC Board Meeting – Transit Village Locations and Implementation Concept Approval.
March 4, 2019: Council Meeting - Transit Village Locations and Implementation Concept.
October 21, 2019: Council Meeting – Resolution supporting rapid transit on Broadway Ave with financial commitment to engineering and environmental review.
November 18, 2019: Council Meeting - Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) and financial commitment for project development approved.
March 16, 2020: Council Meeting – Contract with SRF Consulting approved.
May 4, 2020: Council Meeting – Phased Approach to the Downtown Rapid Transit Project Approved.
August 17, 2020: Council Meeting – Submission of a Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Small Starts grant Application approved.
July 19, 2021: Council Meeting – Contract for the inclusion of art into the Link Rapid Transit infrastructure authorized.
November 15, 2021: Council Study Session – General Project Update.
February 7, 2022: Council Study Session – Reviewed possible revised changes to project definition, budget, funding strategy and schedule.
February 23, 2022: Council Meeting - Contract amendment to the professional services contract with SRF Consulting Group, Inc. authorized.
April 12, 2022: Community Event – Open House held at Bethel Lutheran Church.
April 19, 2022: Community Event – Neighborhood walk led from Riverside Central Elementary School.
April 25, 2022: Council Special Learning Session – Bus tour of project corridor led from Government Center.
April 26, 2022: Community Event – Presentation at Slatterly Park Neighborhood meeting.
May 18, 2022: Community Event – Community pop-up in front of Saint Mary's Hospital.
May 21, 2022: Community Event – Community pop-up at People’s Food Co-op.
May 26, 2022: Community Event – Public webinars at noon and 6pm.
June 5, 2023: Council Meeting – Right of Way Acquisition Request for Proposals
October 23, 2023: City Council Study Session – LINK Rapid Transit Update
January 22, 2024: Council Meeting – Authorized Advertisement for Construction Management Services RFP
April 22, 2024: Council Meeting – Authorized Kimley Horn and Associates for Construction Management Services
April, 29, 2024: Council Study Session – Update on BRT & West Transit Village
August 5, 2024: Council Meeting – Authorized Agreements with the Mayo Clinic for the LINK Bus Rapid Transit Project.
November 4, 2024: Council Meeting – Authorized Bid Advertisement for
February 5, 2019: DMCC Board Meeting – Transit Village Locations and Implementation Concept Approval.
March 4, 2019: Council Meeting – Transit Village Locations and Implementation Concept.
October 21, 2019: Council Meeting – Resolution supporting rapid transit on Broadway Ave with financial commitment to engineering and environmental review.
November 18, 2019: Council Meeting – Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) and financial commitment for project development approved.
March 16, 2020: Council Meeting – Contract with SRF Consulting approved.
May 4, 2020: Council Meeting – Phased Approach to the Downtown Rapid Transit Project Approved.
August 17, 2020: Council Meeting – Submission of a Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Small Starts grant Application approved.
July 19, 2021: Council Meeting – Contract for the inclusion of art into the Link Rapid Transit infrastructure authorized.
November 15, 2021: Council Study Session – General Project Update.
February 7, 2022: Council Study Session – Reviewed possible revised changes to project definition, budget, funding strategy and schedule.
February 23, 2022: Council Meeting – Contract amendment to the professional services contract with SRF Consulting Group, Inc. authorized.
April 12, 2022: Community Event – Open House held at Bethel Lutheran Church.
April 19, 2022: Community Event – Neighborhood walk led from Riverside Central Elementary School.
April 25, 2022: Council Special Learning Session - Bus tour of project corridor led from Government Center.
April 26, 2022: Community Event – Presentation at Slatterly Park Neighborhood meeting.
May 18, 2022: Community Event – Community pop-up in front of Saint Mary's Hospital.
May 21, 2022: Community Event – Community pop-up at People’s Food Co-op.
May 26, 2022: Community Event – Public webinars at noon and 6pm.
June 5, 2023: Council Meeting – Right of Way Acquisition Request for Proposals
October 23, 2023: City Council Study Session – LINK Rapid Transit Update
January 22, 2024: Council Meeting – Authorized Advertisement for Construction Management Services RFP
April 22, 2024: Council Meeting – Authorized Kimley Horn and Associates for Construction Management Services
April 29, 2024: Council Study Session – Update on BRT & West Transit Village
August 5, 2024: Council Meeting – Authorized Agreements with the Mayo Clinic for the LINK Bus Rapid Transit Project.
November 18, 2024: Council Meeting – Authorized Bid Advertisement for Civil Underground Utilities and Architecture - Project No. J8707
February 4, 2025: Bid Opening was conducted by City Clerks Department.
March 3, 2025: Council Meeting – Award Contract for Volume A West Transit Village
March 4, 2025: Council Meeting – Reject Bids and Authorized Readvertisement of Civil Underground and Infrastructure separately from Architecture Package
March 17, 2025: Council Meeting – Professional Services Contract Amendment - SRF, INC. for Architectural & Engineering (A&E) Design - Rochester Downtown Link Rapid Transit - Project No. J8707
May 5, 2025: Council Meeting – Award Contract for Volume B Civil Underground Utilities and Infrastructure
May 5, 2025: Council Meeting – Authorizing an advertisement for bids for Link Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Maintenance Bay Addition - Project No. J8707
May 19, 2025: Council Meeting – Adopting a Resolution awarding a contract to ABC Coating, Inc. in the amount of $113,650 for the Link Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Materials Procurement for the Architecture, Stations and Transit Center (rebar procurement) - Project No. J8707.
July 7, 2025: Council Meeting – Award Contract for Volume D Maintenance Bay Addition
July 7, 2025: Council Meeting – Voluntary Agreement - Link Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Architecture, Stations, and Transit Center - Project No. J8707
July 21, 2025: Council Meeting – Contract with Elcor Construction - Link Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Architecture, Stations and Transit Center - Project No. J8707 and Amending the 2025 Destination Medical Center Budget
October 6, 2025: Council Meeting – Amend Contract with SEH for Right of Way and Land Acquisitions Engineering Services for Link Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) - Project No. J8707
September 22, 2025: Council Meeting – Property Acquisition: Settlement Agreement for Parcel 49 of Link Bus Rapid Transit - Project No. J8707
October 20, 2025: Council Meeting – Property Acquisition: Settlement Agreement for Parcel 57 of Link Bus Rapid Transit - Project No. J8707
October 20, 2025: Council Meeting – Additional Property & Easement Acquisitions for Link Bus Rapid Transit - Project No. J8707
March 16, 2026: Council Meeting – Authorizing an advertisement for bids with a bid opening date of April 7, 2026, for the Link Bus Rapid Transit WTV Drivers Facilities and Public Restrooms - Project No. J8707.
April 6, 2026: Council Meeting – Authorizing the Settlement Agreement to directly purchase the property rights, and to settle the takings of Parcel 49 with a total value above $50,000, and in an amount greater than 15% above the approved appraised value.
April 20, 2026: Council Meeting - Adopting a Resolution authorizing execution of a Right of Entry (ROE) agreement with Mayo Clinic to allow construction activities of the duct bank to begin on the St. Mary’s property while the City continues the federally compliant acquisition process previously approved by the City Council.
April 20, 2026: Council Meeting – Approving a Change Order of a not to exceed amount of $1,214,523 for the LinkBRT Station Volume C Project for relocation of two underground medium voltage electric utility duct banks that serve the Mayo Clinic - Saint Mary's Hospital and Rochester Public Utilities. Amending the contract with Elcor Construction for a new total cost in the amount of $77,059,064.
May 4, 2026: Council Meeting – Adopting a Resolution to award a contract to Brennan Construction of MN, Inc. in the amount of $2,030,000 for the Link Bus Rapid Transit Volume E Drivers Facilities and Public Restrooms - Project No. J8707.
June 1, 2026: Council Meeting – Authorizing approval in the amount of $300,548 with Ineo Systrans USA Inc., doing business as Equans, for installation of Computer-Aided Dispatch and Automatic Vehicle Locator (CAD/AVL) equipment, installation, and configuration on the 12 Link BRT buses.
The total Link BRT Project budget is $196,165,183, which includes costs of consulting services for architecture and engineering design, construction management services, bus procurement, right-of-way acquisition, and construction. This total project budget included $22.752 million in unallocated contingency funds. To date, approximately $3.1 million of the unallocated contingency budget has been expended.
Funding for this project comes from the following sources:
- $84.92 million FTA Small Starts grant,
- $4.389 million in MNDOT funding
- $107.427 million in local matching funds, which includes $375,000 in water and sewer fees,
- $95,919,257 in DMC State and County Transit Aid, and
- $11,132,843 DMC General State Infrastructure Aid (GSIA).
This proposed amendment will increase the Kimley-Horn contract value by $1,417,717.20, resulting in a total contract amount of $9,025,638.20 (approximately 4.6% of the overall Link BRT Project budget). At the September 24, 2026 Destination Medical Center Board meeting, the Board authorized using the unallocated project contingency budget to fund this contract amendment.
No alternative actions are recommended at this time.