Little Rock — High Bids

Rail Transit Online, February 2003

The Central Arkansas Transit Authority opened bids on Jan. 30 for the River Rail streetcar line’s track and power supply contact and found the lowest offer was $1.18 million above the engineer's estimate.  Eight firms responded to the tender, with Mobley Contractors of Morrilton, Arkansas, having the lowest bid at $10.98 million.  The work includes installing approximately 13,000 ft. (3,962 meters) of rail over a concrete pad 18 in. (45.7 cm) thick, an overhead catenary system with more than 120 poles and two power supply packages.  The second lowest bid, from Gilbert Central Construction Co. of Omaha, Nebraska, was only $38,000 higher.  CATA general manager Keith Jones said he was optimistic that money could be found to fill the gap.  “If necessary, there are ways to get additional federal funds for the project, but they will have to be matched with local funds over the next year and a half,” Jones told The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.  Two earlier contracts, one for the 2.2-mi. (3.54 km) system’s trolley barn and the other to adapt the Main Street bridge for streetcars, came in a total of $314,000 over budget.  If Mobley is awarded the job, River Rail will cost around $19.2 million.