Met Council to amend contract for Mall of America transit station.

Byline: Brian Johnson

The Metropolitan Council is nearing completion of a $25 million transit station makeover at the Mall of America, a project beset by funding delays, a rebid for construction services, and other snags.

But before crews put the finishing touches on the project, which improves safety and efficiency at the hub for Metro Transit riders, the council is on the hook for about $184,000 in additional design fees payable to North Carolina-based Kimley-Horn.

The Met Council's Transportation Committee on Monday authorized a contract amendment that raises Kimley-Horn's design fee from $2.48 million to $2.67 million.

Derek Berube, Metro Transit's principal engineer, told committee members that the increase has a lot to do with the project's extended schedule as well as unforeseen conditions in the "as built" environment.

"There are additional costs associated with that," Berube said.

The original plan was to finish the project by February 2018, when U.S. Bank Stadium hosted the Super Bowl. Lack of funding derailed that schedule. Finance & Commerce reported in July 2016 that the project faced an $8.75 million funding gap.

Since construction began in August 2018, the project has encountered "various unforeseen items and other changes" including an expanded construction schedule, the council said in a staff report.

"Ultimately, building a structure underneath a parking lot has many challenges in itself," Berube said. "When you have seven stories of parking above you there's a lot of items that weren't identified in the 'as-builts' that we have had to work through and we continue to do so as we move forward."

The original $2.259 million design contract was awarded in December 2015. The council ultimately revised the schedule and increased the contract to $2.48 million after funding delays and a construction rebid. Morcon Construction is the general contractor.

The transit station is a connecting point for light rail and numerous bus routes. With about 5,600 riders per day, it's the busiest transit station in Minnesota.

One of the most notable improvements is a new bus-only entrance...