Nampa council approves $776,178 HDR contract to update transportation master plan

The Nampa City Council approved a not‑to‑exceed contract with HDR, Inc. on May 21 for a transportation master plan update, with a cost reported in council documents as $776,178. Council discussion focused on the price, scope and the need to use consultants rather than rely solely on in‑house staff.

Crystal Craig, the city's director of transportation, said the project had been scoped in fiscal year 2025 and that staff negotiated hours and deliverables to reduce the original scope and cost by roughly 42% from an earlier $1.25 million estimate. "We were able to reduce the cost of this project by 42% which is what we're presenting to you now," Craig told the council. She said much of the work is planning‑level analysis rather than field work and that HDR is a local firm based in downtown Boise, which reduces travel and per‑diem costs.

Councilman Rodriguez pressed staff on alternatives and cost control: he asked whether the contract covered HDR staff travel and lodging and whether the work could be done in‑house. Craig and staff said HDR would perform most of the technical analysis and that comparable in‑house work in other cities required several full‑time staff for extended periods; she cited peer comparisons showing that outsourcing produced better value in similar jurisdictions. City staff noted that the work will also make the city more competitive for federal grant programs because grantors typically require an up‑to‑date transportation master plan and prioritized project list.

The contract is budgeted within FY26 operations for transportation and is contingent on rollover funding in the budget amendment presented the same night. Council ultimately approved the contract following discussion; clerks recorded affirmative roll‑call votes.

What this means: the plan is intended to produce a five‑to‑seven year planning horizon, align transportation and utility/master planning processes, and create a prioritized list of projects that staff can use to pursue grant funding. Staff said the plan will review pavement conditions, integrate bike/ped planning and inform deferred‑maintenance prioritization.

Speakers at the meeting emphasized cost oversight and the need to align the master plan with other planning efforts; council members did not block the contract but required standard staff oversight during contract execution.