Norfolk council approves NDOT agreements for Link Norfolk RAISE project; city to cover local match

The Norfolk City Council on June 8 approved two professional-services agreements with Olsson and the Nebraska Department of Transportation for the Link Norfolk project (NDOT project DPS‑5924/control 32465) to complete environmental review (NEPA) and 60% design work under a federal RAISE grant.

On Res. 2026‑17, staff described the environmental-services agreement and said the city’s local share would be 10 percent (discussed in the hearing as $21,721) with the remainder funded by the RAISE grant (quoted in discussion as $195,487). Staff identified the contract term through December 31, 2028.

On Res. 2026‑18, staff said the 60% design agreement’s attachment includes terms and stakeholder-engagement requirements and set an expected completion of Dec. 31, 2028. During discussion staff quoted the RAISE portion of the design contract as $1,887,492. Council and a public commenter noted that the two contracts together represent the professional-services work required to advance the project: one commenter observed the two items together total roughly $2.3 million and said the city’s combined contribution would be about $231,000; staff confirmed the contracts were procured through the federal/local-agency selection process and that Olsson was the selected consultant following RFQ review.

Council adopted both resolutions unanimously. Staff said stakeholder engagement will include landowners and business owners along the corridor and public outreach will be scheduled as part of the design process.

Any future implementation-phase grant applications would follow the design and stakeholder-engagement work; staff said they would pursue implementation funding after design work is complete.