Design-build program extension

A 2009 law established a pilot program for selecting and undertaking local transportation projects on the municipal state-aid street and county-state aid highway systems using a design-build contracting method.

A new law removes the Oct. 1, 2012, expiration date for the program so nine projects can be completed before the statutory authority expires. So far, one project is underway in Anoka County.

The law is effective April 19, 2012, one day after it was signed into law by Gov. Mark Dayton.

In a traditional design-bid-build process, an agency completes the plans and specifications and the contractor builds exactly what was designed. In the design-build process, the agency completes a portion of the plan, creates the necessary environmental documents and purchases the right-of-way before going out to bid. It’s up to the design-build contractor to complete the final design and build the project.

Supporters said design-build benefits include singular responsibility through the engineering and construction phases of a project, cost savings and time savings. They say limiting the program to a handful of projects, as in the law, will provide information on what works well before opening it up for everyone to do this.

The law also:

• eliminates a council established to select projects for the program; transferring those duties to the Department of Transportation;

• expands MnDOT’s oversight of the solicitation process;

• removes project distribution limits between the county and municipal systems; and

• eliminates an annual legislative report on the program.

Rep. Bruce Vogel (R-Willmar) and Sen. John Howe (R-Red Wing) sponsor the law.

HF2378/ SF2131*/CH176