KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) – The Keene City Council is poised to advance the final design phase of its downtown infrastructure overhaul, marking a crucial milestone in revitalizing the city. On Thursday, the City Council’s Finance, Organization, and Personnel (FOP) Committee unanimously endorsed City Manager Elizabeth Dragon to negotiate and finalize a design contract with Stantec, an engineering consulting firm, for up to $1.23 million.

During the meeting, Public Works Director Don Lussier provided background, noting this would be the third contract with Stantec for the downtown reconstruction project. Initially chosen through a qualifications-based selection process, Stantec has been involved since the project’s conceptual phase, which featured extensive public input to shape its core elements.

“We have a plan now, but once you start digging and examining the water and sewer lines, things can change,” Lussier remarked, emphasizing the challenges of moving from preliminary to final design. The final design phase will translate the preliminary plans into detailed construction documents and specifications necessary for the three-year construction effort.

The preliminary design, approved by the City Council on July 18, includes protected bicycle lanes, expanded common areas, and enhanced crosswalks. Changes to Central Square will preserve the signalized traffic pattern while adding a footpath around the perimeter. Additional improvements include flashing crosswalks, a raised crossing table on Main Street, and a solar panel structure over parking spaces on Gilbo Avenue.

Lussier noted that the preliminary design contract with Stantec, initially budgeted at $995,000, is expected to finish about $400,000 under budget. This saving is largely due to deferring approximately $200,000 worth of tasks, such as subsurface inspections and soil data collection, to the final design phase.

Lussier also mentioned that the estimated $1.23 million for the final design is still under negotiation. He raised concerns about the $200,000 allocated for public engagement, suggesting the city might not need such a significant amount given the broad community consensus already achieved. “Certainly, there’s going to be some public engagement, but I don’t know that we need $200,000 worth during this phase,” he said.

Comparing the downtown project to the recently completed Winchester Street project, Lussier noted the latter’s engineering fees were about 12 percent of the construction cost. In contrast, the downtown project’s current estimate stands at roughly 14.1 percent of the construction cost. He aims to negotiate this down to around 12-12.5 percent, acknowledging the downtown project’s greater complexity and higher level of public engagement.

The FOP Committee’s recommendation will now go before the full City Council for a decision on August 1. If approved, construction on the downtown infrastructure project is expected to begin in 2026.