TRUSTEES SELECT FIRM TO BUILD SOUTH CENTER FOR TRANSPORTATION:

By Helen Eriksen

December 3, 2009

Facility would be located near Rylander school

Work on the first phase of a new transportation center that will serve the south side of Katy Independent School District is about to begin, and school officials hope this portion of the project will be completed during the summer.

Katy ISD trustees approved the selection of Tulsa-based Bass Construction Co. to do the work in a 7-0 vote during a Nov. 23 school board meeting.

The board approved design plans in March for the first phase of the transportation center on Falcon Landing Boulevard, located west of Rylander Elementary School.

District officials say the project is needed to support efficient operations and to accommodate growth.

The total cost of $2,456 million for Phase I is within the original funding allocation and the project is coming in on budget, district officials said.  The estimated cost for the entire project is $3,362 million of a total bond allocation of $4.2 million, which includes funding for related projects.

Katy ISD spokesman Steve Stanford said the new transportation facility would accommodate 78 cars and 73 buses.

The district anticipates proceeding with a second construction package in the spring to finance the widening and extension of Falcon Landing Boulevard to serve this facility.  The project would extend the road from Westheimer Parkway/Greenbusch to Katy-Gaston Road.

District chief architect and planner Peter McElwain said Fort Bend County has agreed to reimburse the school district for the project from funds from the mobility bond approved by voters in 200.

McElwain told trustees in July that having the district take over the work would provide the access that is needed to get to the transportation center and make sure it's completed on time.

"We are doing our best to escalate this project," McElwain said.  "This is viewed as the most expedient manner to create the required access and, in turn, minimize delays to the overall project."

In November, the district's construction department and project consultant Houston-based SBWV Architects evaluated 14 proposals using approved selection criteria before awarding the contract to Bass Construction Co., he said.

Bass was not only the lowest bidder, but the firm also has committed to doing the job in the shortest time frame -- 180 days.  Drymalla Construction Co., based in Columbus, ranked second with a bid of $2.518 million and a proposal to complete the project in 210 days.

District officials say Bass has successfully built similar projects for Lamar Consolidated ISD, Santa Fe ISD and other local school districts and municipalities.

In other matters, trustees held a public hearing for reporting progress in meeting "highly qualified teacher" requirements under the federal No Child Left Behind mandate.  No one signed up to speak during the hearing.

The board also recognized National Achievement Scholarship semifinalists, National Hispanic Scholars and National Merit Scholarship semifinalists for their achievements.