Volume 16, Issue 51 - Wednesday, December 18, 2024

Public officials will launch numerous large correctional facility construction projects in 2025 and 2026

Correctional facilities in many regions have been overlooked for decades, overshadowed by more pressing and immediate priorities. Most operate very inefficiently. Not only are they costly to maintain, most lack the modern technology needed to enhance security and very few provide rehabilitation and supportive services to help individuals reintegrate back into the community. Currently hundreds of correctional facilities are being planned throughout the U.S. Most will call for large construction efforts with numerous types of new technology and equipment. The examples that follow represent contracting opportunities that will be available in 2025 and 2026.

A new state-of-the-art women's correctional facility is planned for Chesterfield Township, New Jersey. The projected cost of the project is $90 million. It is part of the state’s Department of Corrections' efforts to replace an existing facility for women with a modern, trauma-informed institution.

This new facility will be designed to as a campus environment with space for services and programming that support rehabilitation and reentry. It will have designated spaces for education, therapy, and vocational training. Security will be enhanced with advanced surveillance systems. The location will facilitate family visitation and connections to community resources. A construction manager will be hired in 2024, and construction solicitations will be issued after that with work slated to begin sometime in 2025.

A new $500 million federal prison will be built by the Federal Bureau of Prisons in Roxana, Kentucky. It will be a medium-security facility located alongside a minimum-security Federal Prison Camp in Letcher County and will replace an old building that is no longer cost-effective to operate. When completed, the new facility will accommodate approximately 1,408 adult inmates and will meet contemporary correctional standards. It will provide space for several comprehensive rehabilitation programs to support education and vocational training. The project is still in the planning phase with a timeline for construction solicitations likely to be announced in late 2025.

The Texas Juvenile Justice Department has announced plans to move forward with construction of a new juvenile facility in Ellis County, Texas. The state legislature voted to provide $200 million for construction of the facility, which will mark the first new Texas juvenile correctional facility in 25 years. The project will deliver a 100-bed facility with a modernized space tailored for youth requiring acute mental health support and those exhibiting highly aggressive behavior. It will be outfitted with state-of-the-art security systems, education and vocational training facilities, and therapeutic environments for offenders. This project is still in the planning phase, but an open bidding process for construction will follow in 2025 and work is expected to begin in 2026.

Click here for more.

Wisconsin school district earmarks $79 million to renovate, modernize outdated school facilities

Whitnall School District (WSD) in Wisconsin will spend $79.1 million to renovate outdated school facilities, replace aging systems and expand educational and recreational spaces. Construction is expected to begin in 2026. 

The projects will focus on four campuses with infrastructure and amenities that have outlived their life expectancy. In addition, the WSD will perform districtwide upgrades to ensure all buildings are ADA-compliant and have fully updated infrastructure. These upgrades include replacing major systems, aging roof sections, windows and wall panels. 

Whitnall High School has the single highest number of needs requiring district support. Currently, the building is not energy efficient, has antiquated layouts, unsafe gym bleachers, outdated equipment, a deteriorating auditorium and a failing pool structure. 

The district will renovate the facility’s science labs and kitchen and update the auditorium and gymnasium. Whitnall High School will also have its locker rooms and restrooms renovated and the current pool converted into a weights and fitness area, wrestling room and multi-purpose space. An eight-lane competition pool with diving boards and spectator seating will replace the old pool. 

Edgerton Elementary School lacks the space needed to support quality education, requiring teachers and students to use every available space in the building and share facilities to meet needs. Rectifying this issue will require the district to build larger classrooms and reconfigure the main office. Plans also include separating the gym and cafeteria with a new dedicated facility for both, alongside updating the kitchen. 

Most district buildings either have inadequate or no systems – such as air conditioning - to maintain comfortable environments for students and faculty. Hal Corners Elementary School has some sections that date back to the 1950s which lack these critical amenities. The district plans to modernize the building by replacing roof sections, adding air conditioning to select areas and the gymnasium, replacing failing windows and wall panels and making second-floor restrooms ADA-compliant. 

Whitnall Middle Schools needs the fewest repairs, replacements and renovations. Alongside roof replacement, WSD will renovate the locker room restrooms and replace bleachers to comply with ADA regulations.

(Photo courtesy of lil_foot_ on Pixabay.)

Michigan communities receiving $39 million to build resiliency hubs, improve energy efficiency

Organizations and local governments across Michigan will receive a combined $38.9 million to deploy clean energy technologies, repair homes, make energy-efficiency improvements and develop resiliency hubs. These investments will allow these communities to initiate proactive measures that guard against inclement weather, lower energy costs and protect natural resources.

The Southwest Michigan Planning Commission (SWMPC) - a regional planning organization covering three counties – will use $20 million to create two community resilience hubs. These hubs will provide disaster preparation and recovery services and offer power backup options. The commission will leverage clean energy solutions at both locations and will also help upgrade energy efficiency and electrification for residences and communal spaces.

The Garden House Resilience Hub will showcase the capabilities of an electrified house, serving as an accelerator for community electrification efforts. The building will have a dedicated space for community education and provide shelter during emergencies.

In addition, the SWMPC will upgrade the Bobo Brazil Community Center to serve as the second resiliency hub. Plans include improving the building’s energy efficiency, upgrading its storage and backup power and installing a pilot microgrid using two bi-directional electric vehicle chargers.

Kalamazoo County will use $18.9 million to improve and repair 300 single-family housing units as part of the Holistic Healthy Homes program. The project will also develop four local neighborhood centers into resiliency hubs. These sites will serve as emergency shelters and communal gathering spaces.

(Photo courtesy of Pixabay on Pexels.)

Riverside County allocates $509 million to enhance transportation infrastructure

Riverside County – neighboring the city of Los Angeles to the east – will spend $509.3 million to improve highway infrastructure, realign and widen roads, replace bridges and enhance interchanges. Currently in the design phase, construction on the first project is expected to begin in December 2025. 

The Cajalco Road Widening and Safety Enhancement project carries a $359.7 million cost. The county will prioritize widening and realigning 16 miles of Cajalco Road. Plans are in place to realign and minimize the road’s curves to increase safety, alongside installing paved shoulders and medians. 

The project will also build wildlife crossings, improve drainage systems and create a new connection to a nearby road. As part of the widening work, the county will convert certain sections of the roadway to four lanes and another section to six. The entire route will receive improved traffic signals, and the county has chosen to add left and right turn pockets at certain intersections. 

The county will invest $134.6 million to improve the Monroe Interchange. Featured improvements will include reconstructing and widening the freeway on- and off-ramps at the Interstate 10 and Monroe Street Interchange. Plans also include replacing overcrossings to accommodate through lanes, turn lanes and connect to a multimodal active transportation pathway – known as the Coachella Valley Link (CV Link). 

The interchange will be converted into a tight diamond interchange. This design will allow the area to retain the existing layout while drastically improving traffic flow. In addition to building new lanes, the project will also improve the interchange’s geometry and add mobility elements. 

The Airport Boulevard Bridge – a critical link in the Riverside County area – will be replaced through a $16 million project to meet modern design and safety standards. The 71-year-old bridge is outdated and does not have a sufficient seismic rating. 

The replacement bridge will meet all required standards and will enable safe transit across the river. Plans include reconstructing approach roadways, improving intersections and offsite connections and potentially connecting with the CV Link. The bridge will feature two lanes, a median turn lane, shield walls and sidewalks. 

(Photo courtesy of mhtoori .com on Pexels.)

Virginia public school district approves $1.5 billion capital improvement plan

Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS), Virginia, approved its $1.5 billion five-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) during its Dec. 10 meeting. 

The updated CIP builds on the previous plan, dedicating an additional $176.1 million in new project funding between Fiscal Years 2026 and 2031. The plan splits its funding between three project categories: sustainment, new capacity and improvements. For FY 2026, LCPS will allocate: 

• $94.6 million for sustainment projects. 
• $63.9 million for new capacity projects. 
• $17.6 million for improvement projects. 

A major inclusion is the district’s Capital Asset Preservation Program (CAPP), which has its own budget annually updated and was adopted as part of the larger CIP. The CAPP addresses maintenance and facility system component replacement, which supports overall building operation and sustainability. The latest CIP allocates $48 million for these projects, which will cover: 

• Electrical systems such as clocks, fire alarms, generators, lighting and switchgears. 
• Mechanical systems including chillers, control systems, HVAC equipment and cooling towers. 
• Plumbing systems including boilers, grease traps and water heaters. 
• Resurfacing projects for asphalt/concrete, poured-in-place playgrounds, tennis courts and running tracks. 
• Roofing. 
• Structure-related projects such as bleachers, doors, elevators, flooring, painting, turf fields and windows. 

Over the next year, the district will prioritize improving energy efficiency, buying land and renewing essential school systems. Outstanding investments include $40 million to acquire land, property and conduct due diligence; $17 million to renew critical systems; $12 million to support energy conservation and efficiency projects; and $10.3 million to replace school buses. 

The largest standalone project, receiving $18.1 million, will be the renovation and addition at Waterford Elementary School. Anticipated to open in 2027, the district will renovate and build a 14,000-20,000 square foot addition to the building. The expansion will feature a multipurpose room, four classrooms and ancillary spaces. Renovations will cover the facility’s cafeteria, kitchen and office areas. The completed project will remove all modular classrooms from the site. 

(Photo courtesy of Josh Olalde on Unsplash.)

Salt Lake City plans $18.4 million revamp of historic park

Salt Lake City will spend $18.4 million to revitalize the iconic Pioneer Park by updating its recreational and greenspace amenities. Construction is expected to begin in summer 2025. 

The project will build on the park’s existing features, expanding offerings around the multipurpose field to better suit community needs and wants. A notable feature will be a large, open-air pavilion providing extra seating and event space. 

The renovation will feature a combined restroom, maintenance and ranger building with offices, visitor support, maintenance storage and year-round accessible restrooms. 

Greenspace will be significantly expanded, including the installation of gardens featuring native and adaptive plants associated with the region’s landscape. A series of pathways will include signage highlighting the history of Pioneer Park. A permanent ranger kiosk will improve park security for long-term operations. 

Recreational offerings feature an inclusive, accessible playground that will include:

• Age-specific play equipment. 
• Poured-in-place safety surfacing. 
• Misting poles. 
• A lawn. 

In addition, the city will build six lighted pickleball courts and a single full-size basketball court, all supported by competition-level post-tension concrete. Plans also include a dog park with a shade structure, dog drinking fountains, seating and a mixture of crushed stone and synthetic turf. 

The project will build a prominent promenade to provide essential event spaces for residents and visitors. The 20-foot-wide promenade will be able to accommodate up to eight food trucks, providing power pedestals, accent paving, seating and shading. Located near one of the park’s entrances, the promenade will be complemented by a mist fountain plaza that includes seating and cooling features. 

(Photo courtesy of Tamanoeconomico.)

Denver RTD approves FY 2025 budget for light rail, transit projects

The Denver Regional Transportation District (RTD) Board of Directors has adopted a $1.8 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2025. The budget will officially take effect Jan. 1, 2025. 

The largest expenditure listed in the budget will go toward the Downtown Light Rail Reconstruction Project, totaling $152 million for FY 2025. The investment covers the first of four phases, starting with grade crossing replacements across four intersections. The reconstruction effort, carried over from FY 2024, will help ensure the light rail track and related infrastructure are kept in a state of good repair. 

The budget features a series of supplementary, infrastructure, vehicle fleet, Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) and public facility projects to maintain operational effectiveness and reliability. Examples of these projects include: 

• Replacing maintenance vehicles and buses.
• Replacing radio devices.
• Repairing damaged concrete and associated infrastructure.
• Replacing facility heating and cooling units.
• Repairing bridges.
• Replacing curbs.

RTD will also continue to implement Strategic Plan Initiatives to improve workforce development, maintain assets in states of good repair, improve security and safety and foster community connections. 

(Photo courtesy of Jeffrey Beall.)

FTA approves $10 billion Manhattan bus terminal replacement project

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is approving the final environmental review and issuing a record of decision (ROD) for a world-class modernization project at the nation’s largest and world’s busiest bus station in New York City.

The bus terminal replacement project, led by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, will reconstruct the 73-year-old Midtown Bus Terminal in Manhattan. Hampered by nearly a decade of delays, the FTA’s approval and issuance of ROD will push the $10 billion public transit project beyond the regulatory steps and allow the authority to begin the construction process as early as next year.

Click here for more information about progress on the Midtown Bus Terminal

(Photo courtesy of ajay_suresh.)

Utah’s ‘Operation Gigawatt’ aims to boost power production with nuclear, geothermal

Utah wants to double the amount of power it can produce over the next decade. Projections show that the state faces a looming energy crisis driven by rapid population growth, increasing pressures on the grid from electrification, new industries moving in and the retirement of existing power plants.  

With a new plan, dubbed “Operation Gigawatt,” Utah is setting an ambitious course that would allow the state to remain a net energy exporter while meeting growing demand. The initiative comes as data centers alone are projected to consume up to 9% of U.S. electricity by 2030, according to estimates cited by state officials. 

Click here to learn more about Utah’s approach to boosting long-term renewable power

(Photo courtesy of Markus Distelrath on Pixabay.)

California unveils $1.4 billion clean transportation plan for alternative fueling projects

California is fast tracking the statewide transition to a fully zero-emission transportation system by 2035 with billions in potential funding opportunities and incentives.  

The California Energy Commission (CEC) is approving a four-year plan to fund zero-emissions infrastructure projects around the state. The historic investment, allocated through the CEC’s tenured Clean Transportation Program, will include up to $1.4 billion in funding opportunities to deploy electric-based charging and hydrogen-based fueling infrastructure and vehicles, especially in California’s historically underserved communities.  

Click here for more information about California’s upcoming alternative fueling projects

(Photo courtesy of Goran Horvat on Pixabay.)

Arizona commits over $1 billion to expand broadband access through ConnectAllAZ initiative

Arizona is embarking on several broadband expansion efforts that will provide more than $1 billion in funding to connect all unserved residents across the state to reliable, high speed internet service. 

The ConnectAllAZ initiative looks to centralize the state’s broadband expansion initiatives and formalize the state’s next steps towards eclipsing the digital divide. Arizona, in partnership with several public and private entities and federal and state agencies, will invest millions in grants to accomplish its mission: universal broadband for all. 

Click here to learn more about Arizona’s efforts to make internet accessible for state residents

(Photo courtesy of Field Engineer.)

California – Culver City has chosen its new CIO. J.R. Wright will assume the position, taking charge of the city’s IT Department. He brings more than two decades of IT experience in both the public and private sector. Wright previously served as the IT manager for Merced and IT Manager for communications and customer support for Torrance. He will take over the role from Michele Williams. 

New Jersey – Kris Kolluri has been selected to leads NJ Transit as president and CEO. Kolluri most recently served as CEO of the Gateway Development Commission, overseeing the largest infrastructure project in the U.S. He will officially succeed Kevin Corbett after he leaves office Jan. 15, 2025. 

Missouri – The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) has appointed Eric Schroeter as deputy director and chief engineer. Schroeter has spent 32 years with MoDOT, most recently as assistant chief engineer. He will replace Ed Hassinger in the role. 

Washington, D.C. - Michael Furze will lead the Building Technologies Office (BTO) as director. Furze most recently served as assistant director for the Energy Office at the Washington State Department of Commerce. 

New York – On Dec. 2, the village of Mamaroneck appointed Kathleen Gill as village manager. Gill most recently served as city manager of New Rochelle. Her first day in her new role was Dec. 9. 

Florida – Alex Munoz will join the city of South Miami as director of public works and capital improvements. Munoz brings more than three decades of executive leadership experience to the position. He most recently served as a director for Miami-Dade County for more than three years. 

Pennsylvania – Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) has officially promoted James MacNeil to deputy chief transportation officer. MacNeil has been operating as the authority’s acting deputy chief transportation officer since July 2024. He has been with PRT since 2006, starting as an operator in both the bus and light rail divisions. 

California – Marisol Thorn has been promoted to deputy city manager for the city of El Cajon. Thorn has been with the city since 2018, starting as a principal HR analyst before moving into her most recent role as HR director. She brings more than 23 years of HR experience to the position. 

Arizona – The Glendale City Council has appointed Lauren Tolmachoff as vice mayor for the upcoming year. Tolmachoff has served as a member of the City Council representing Cholla District for a decade. 

Colorado – John Herge has been chosen to take over as director of strategy for the city of Greeley. Herge brings more than three decades of executive leadership and management consulting experience to the position. 

Oklahoma – The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA) has appointed Joni Seymour and Kelly Ford to leadership roles. 

• Seymour will take over as deputy director. She most recently served the Oklahoma Transportation Cabinet as chief innovation officer. She brings more than 27 years of experience in consulting, management and IT roles. Seymour has worked for OTA before, previously serving as chief information officer and software development manager. 
• Ford will be the authority’s next HR director. She brings more than 20 years of HR experience in the private sector to the position. 

Strategic Partnerships, Inc.

Publisher: Mary Scott Nabers

Editors: Adam Rollins

Jerrod Kingery

www.spartnerships.com

Government Contracting Pipeline, a publication of Strategic Partnerships, Inc., is a free, weekly newsletter detailing important happenings nationwide and the premier source for federal, state and local government news and contracting opportunities.