Urban Systems Committee Give Update to Rawlins City Council

MAY 30, 2025 |

Photo – Sixth Street Bridge in Rawlins – Courtesy Google Maps

The Chair of the Rawlins Urban Systems Committee provided the City Council with an update on two long-delayed projects.

During the May 20th Rawlins City Council meeting, Urban Systems Committee Chairwoman Sheri Shillinger explained 51 years ago, the Wyoming Department of Transportation, the Board of Carbon County Commissioners, and the Rawlins City Council established the Urban Systems Committee to identify transportation-related projects within the city. Shillinger stated that WYDOT manages all state and federal funds designated for the projects.

Currently, WYDOT allocates $155,000 annually to the City of Rawlins for transportation-related improvement projects.

Shillinger explained that the Urban Systems Committee is currently working on two projects within the city: repairs to the 6th Street Bridge and the North Higley Boulevard pedestrian underpass.

The Urban Systems Committee Chairwoman said after a decade of study, officials concluded a walking tunnel would be the safest solution for pedestrians crossing North Higley Boulevard.

Shillinger continued, stating WYDOT and the Rawlins government entered into an agreement three years ago to construct the pedestrian underpass for $1,508,659. The project was scheduled for completion by this August, with the city contributing $158,341.

As reported by Bigfoot99, the cost of the North Higley Boulevard pedestrian underpass has risen dramatically since that time.

Earlier this year, WYDOT notified the governing body the lowest contractor bid came in at $3,332,767, or roughly $1.8 million above the originally agreed-upon price. At WYDOT’s recommendation, the City Council voted to deny all the estimates and put the project back out for bid later this year.

Speaking later during the May 20th Rawlins City Council meeting, Public Works Director Cody Dill said WYDOT officials want to know if the city remains committed to the project, despite its potential contribution rising from $158,000 to over $1 million.

The governing body agreed to continue the pedestrian underpass project, noting if the next round of bids matches or exceeds the previous round, the Council may reconsider its involvement.

Returning to Sheri Shillinger’s Urban Systems Committee update, the Committee Chairwoman informed the governing body WYDOT approved a 10% increase in its annual contribution to the city last year. Shillinger said the money has been earmarked for the North Higley Boulevard pedestrian underpass.

Shillinger said WYDOT has allowed the city to borrow against future Urban Systems Committee payments to help cover the cost of the underpass. Additionally, WYDOT committed another $400,000 of state funding toward the project.

If the city backs out, it must reimburse the state agency for all engineering costs incurred to date, which total roughly $400,000.

Next, Shillinger discussed the 6th Street Bridge repair project. The Urban Systems Committee Chairwoman explained WYDOT has determined the 6th Street Bridge qualifies for repairs or replacement under the Biden administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding is set to expire in 2027.

Shillinger said the 6th Street bridge repair project is estimated to cost $2.3 million, with the city expected to provide a 10% match.

The chairwoman of the Urban Systems Committee said WYDOT has asked the City to contribute labor to the project to reduce the total cost. Schillinger said if the work proceeds as planned, the project could be put out to bid before the federal funds expire.

The governing body did not offer comment during Shillinger’s presentation, simply thanking her and the other Urban Systems Committee members for their time and effort.

The next Rawlins Urban Systems Committee meeting is scheduled for Monday, June 16th, at 1:00 p.m. in the Rawlins City Hall basement, located at 521 West Cedar Street.