In 2003 the estimated cost to complete the bike trails from Ross Road north to Kyle Park and from the Nature Center to the Concord line was just over $2.4 million with all but $221,219 being funded by grants.
That amount was to be shared with the Miami County Parks District paying Monroe Township's share of $134,943, Fiver Rivers Metro Park paying $68,578 and Tipp City paying the remaining $17,698.
Four years later, Tipp City Council was shocked to learn last week, the cost to complete the trail has ballooned to $3.6 million with Tipp City's share increasing to $270,000
"What you are saying is that the length of the trail is increasing by close to 11 percent (a slight change in the route to separate it from the park road), and the cost is increasing by 50 percent," said council man Bill Begley at a workshop held Tuesday, Jan. 2.
"We can apply for a Recreational Trails Grant which would help make up the gap in funding, but even then we can't be sure that the other Miami County and Five Metro Parks can fund their share of the increase."
"This isn't the only governing body questioning the increase in the costs," said Assistant City Manager Brad Vath.
In a memo to City Manager David Collinsworth, City Engineer Scott Vagedes said the project was estimated in 2003 at $2.4 million which included 10 percent inflation for 2008 construction.
He said the Ohio Department of Transportation has experienced cost increases in the last few years and now recommends when making projections for cost estimating use 9 percent for one year and up to 25 percent or more for five years.
"I also believe LJB (the consulting firm for the project) under estimated a few of the items, Rohrer's Run bridge crossing for example was allocated at $25,000," Vagedes wrote. "LJB's new estimate is $160,000 which I believe is high for a bike trail bridge."
The original proposal to the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission for the bike trail project was to be fully grant funded. That was later changed to a 9 percent match by the local agencies and the administrator changed from the MVRPC to Five Rivers.
Vagedes said the original plan was for a 10' wide bike trail with 2' grass shoulders, then grade to meet existing standards which meets ODOT's minimum design standards. Five Rivers, as lead agent, instructed LJB to design a 10' wide bike trail, allow for a future 2' expansion of the trail, and 5'grass shoulders, then grade to meet existing standards.
"The committee only learned of this design change approximately two months ago when the estimated construction cost exceeded $3 million and asked for the design to be returned to the original plan," Vagedes said.
"Last month, we learned LJB revised some of the trail design back to the original plan, but apparently at Five Rivers direction, was to keep the 10+2+5+5 design within Montgomery County which increases the cost of this project to $3,604,595.
Vagedes was to meet today with Don Spang of the MVRPC, Miami County Engineer Doug Christian and Bob Shook, the Miami County Bike Trail Coordinator, and representatives of LJB to discuss the cost overages and how to proceed with the project.
"The committee has requested cost breakdowns of the projected final costs by jurisdiction, but has not received them from Five Rivers to date," Vagedes said. "So far, my understanding is that none of the parties to the agreement, with the exception of Five Rivers, want to contribute nor have additional funds to complete this design as it now stands."
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