Advisory groups to review MAPS 3 spending requests

Advisory committees meet this week to review requests for ongoing spending for MAPS 3 construction projects, including the downtown streetcar system, and for consulting services. Included:

• $18.6 million: Annual consulting fee for ADG, PC, the firm that oversees and coordinates architectural, design and construction work for MAPS 3 projects. The 2018-19 contract amount is an increase of $1.9 million from last year.

• $760,000: To be paid to the Oklahoma City Boathouse Foundation, to reimburse the foundation for higher than anticipated startup costs for the MAPS 3 whitewater park on the Oklahoma River. The Boathouse Foundation has a contract to operate, manage and maintain the whitewater park. The money is to be transferred to the Boathouse Foundation from MAPS 3 sales tax revenues that exceeded original projections made back in 2009.

• $425,850: Contract to be awarded to Midwest Wrecking Co. for demolition work in the area slated for the lower section of the 68-acre MAPS 3 downtown park. The lower park is on the west side of S Robinson Avenue between Interstate 40 and the Oklahoma River. Demolition work will include clearing away remnants of auto scrapyards and parts suppliers in Hubcab Alley.

• $271,000: Increases for work on the MAPS 3 streetcar system, under construction by contractor Herzog/Stacy and Witbeck. The new contract amount is $53.4 million, an increase of $3.4 million over Herzog/ Stacy and Witbeck’s original bid of $50 million. Work includes installing track, electrical substations, overhead wires and boarding platforms. According to the latest budget report, there was about $1.2 million left in the $131.8 million streetcar budget, with six months to go before construction is complete.