Primary Department: County Engineer
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Milton Rahman, PhD, P.E, PMP, CFM, ENV-SP
Managing Department: County Engineer
Managing Department Head/Elected Official: Milton Rahman, PhD, P.E, PMP, CFM, ENV-SP
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Investment Memo
Investment Memo Type: Change Investment Memo
Project Name: Downtown Complex Tunnel System Repair and Mitigation
Project ID (if applicable): MF0X2
Vendor Legal Name (if applicable): N/A
MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): N/A
MWBE Current Achievement (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% MWDBE Participation Goal: N/A - Goal not applicable to request
Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable):
Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A - Not a grant item
Incremental Authorization Requested: $1,500,000
Total Estimated Project Cost: $5,467,400
Request Summary:
title
Request for approval of a Change Investment Memo for the Downtown Complex Tunnel System Repair and Mitigation projects, for an incremental amount of $1,500,000.00 for a total of $5,467,400 and a request for approval of commercial paper funding in the amount of $1,500,000.00 for a total allocation of $5,470,000.
end
Project Description:
The purpose is to upgrade the Caroline Street Tunnel (FEMA to reimburse the funds). FEMA covers two projects in their scope:
1. Construction of the Downtown Tunnel Flood Mitigation Lift Station (currently under construction)
2. Construction of the Restoration of the Caroline Street Tunnel
This request is for the construction of the restoration of the Caroline Street Tunnel, which involves demolition and refurbishment of damaged floor, walls, and ceiling surfaces and finishes, as well as electrical light fixtures. These refurbishments will include mitigation upgrades, such as resilient wall panels and polished concrete flooring surfaces, to minimize damage during future flooding events. Due to rising costs since 2018, the project requires an increase in authorization of $1,500,000 to reach the final milestone.
Project Scope:
The Construction of the Restoration of the Downtown Tunnels has a FIM previously approved by the Commissioners Court. Since 2017, several actions have been taken for this project, which include: assessments performed on the Caroline Street Tunnel, provision of recommendations for repairs and replacements of certain components, and provision of signed and sealed construction documents.
Anticipated Project Expenditures and Timeline:
|
Project Scope Breakdown |
Estimated Cost |
Estimated Completion |
|
Award for construction phase of the Caroline Tunnel Restoration Project associated with the escalation cost from 2018. |
$1,000,000.00 |
FY 2026 |
|
Additional Professional Services - architecture and engineering services caused by an extended schedule. |
$200,000.00 |
FY 2026 |
|
Contingency (25%) |
$300,000.00 |
FY 2026 |
|
Total |
$1,500,000.00 |
|
Justification & Alternatives:
Justification:
Hurricane Harvey affected certain operations of select County-owned buildings that are connected to the Caroline Street Tunnel system. The (pre-Harvey) equipment failed to rapidly remove stormwater from the existing tunnel system. Consequently, huge amounts of stormwater damaged floors, walls, ceiling surfaces, finishes, and electrical fixtures. To repair the damaged features of the Tunnel, restore it to pre-Harvey conditions, as mentioned, and prevent/or hinder similar occurrences in future flooding events, there is a need to approve funding for the construction phase of this project.
Alternatives and Engagement:
If the requested (CIM) Change Investment Memo isn’t approved by the Commissioner’s Court, the construction phase of this project will be unable to commence, thus preventing the Caroline Street Tunnel from being restored to its pre-flooding condition. Given that the Construction of the Downtown Tunnel Flood Mitigation Lift Station project only exists because of the Construction of the Restoration of the Caroline Street Tunnel project, the reimbursements from FEMA will be jeopardized if the Flood Mitigation project is executed without the Restoration of the Caroline Street Tunnel project.
Anticipated Impact on Other Funds (If Applicable):
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Fund Code |
Description |
Estimated Cost |
Funding Method (Existing or Future Budget Request Required) |
Estimated Date of Needs |
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$- |
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- |
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$- |
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- |
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Total |
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$- |
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- |
County Strategic Plan Goal: 2. Connect our community with safe, reliable, equitably distributed, and well-maintained infrastructure.
County Strategic Plan Objective: N/A
Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1): N/A
Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2): I1: Develop a countywide parks network and connectivity plan.
Economy Initiative (Goal 3): N/A
Health Initiative (Goal 4): N/A
Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5): N/A
Housing Initiative (Goal 6): N/A
Previous Court Action:
|
Date |
Agenda Item # |
Action Taken |
|
4/10/18 |
19.d.8.c |
Johnston, LLC, in the amount of $394,500 for architectural and engineering services for the design of restoration and mitigation efforts on county buildings for the period of April 10, 2018-April 9, 2019 (17/0274). |
|
8/13/2019 |
18.d.14.b |
Request that the County Judge execute amendments with: • Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, Inc.; Collaborate Arch, LLC; Johnston, LLC; Rey de la Reza Architects, Inc., dba RdlR Architects, Inc.; Page Southerland Page, Inc.; and PGAL, Inc., to incorporate provisions now required by law for architectural and engineering services for the design of restoration and mitigation efforts on county buildings, with no increase in the total contract amount (17/0274). |
|
10/29/19 |
II.4 |
Request by the Purchasing Agent that the County Judge executes the third amendment to the agreement with Page Southerland Page, Inc. in the additional amount of $305,000 for professional architectural and engineering services for the design of restoration and mitigation efforts on Harris County buildings (170274). |
|
1/7/20 |
1.p.3 |
Recommendation for approval of funding of the FY 2020 Capital Improvements Program projects for: • Downtown complex tunnel system repairs in the amount of $350,000. |
|
1/28/2020 |
4.g.5 |
Request for approval of commercial paper funding for the Office of the County Engineer for the: • Downtown complex tunnel system repairs project in the amount of $350,000. |
|
8/11/20 |
19.c.9.b |
Request that the County Judge execute amendments to agreements with: • Page Southerland Page, Inc., in the additional amount of $48,000 for additional work for architectural and engineering services for the design of restoration and mitigation efforts on county buildings (170274). |
|
2/9/21 |
224 |
Request that the County Judge execute an amendment to an agreement with Johnston, LLC, in the additional amount of $149,500 for flood mitigation efforts to be implemented in the Harris County downtown tunnel system for architectural and engineering services for the design of restoration and mitigation efforts on county buildings (170274). |
|
8/10/21 |
110 |
Request for Authorization for the Facilities and Property Maintenance (FPM) Division to Bid for Construction On, and Receive Funding for the Restoration and Mitigation of the Downtown Tunnel System - Caroline St. Tunnels (Harvey) Project, in the Amount of $460,000.00, Precinct 1 |
|
11/30/21 |
21-6212 |
Request for approval of a Preliminary Investment Memo for the Downtown Complex System Repairs project, Caroline St. Tunnels Mitigation phase, for an additional $259,900 for a total authorization of $1,413,300 and commercial paper funding for an additional $260,000 for a total of $610,000, Precinct 1. |
|
5/10/22 |
22-2973 |
Request for approval of a Change Investment Memo for the Downtown Complex Tunnel System Repair and Mitigation projects in the additional amount of $97,500 for a total authorization of $1,714,400 and commercial paper funding for an additional $100,000 for a total allocation of $710,000, UPIN 18035MFOX201, Precinct 1. |
|
6/14/2022 |
22-3562 |
Request that the County Judge execute amendments to agreements with: • Page Southerland Page, Inc., in the additional amount of $48,000 for additional work for architectural and engineering services for the design of restoration and mitigation efforts on county buildings (170274). |
|
8/23/2022 |
Agenda #:325 |
Request that the County Judge execute an amendment to an agreement with Johnston LLC, additional amount of $281,000 for flood mitigation efforts to be implemented in the Downtown Tunnel System for professional architectural and engineering services for the design of restoration and mitigation efforts on Harris County buildings (170274). |
|
8/8/2023 |
23-4530 |
Request for approval of a Final Investment Memo for the Downtown Tunnel System (Harvey) project in the amount of $2,800,000 for a total authorization of $4,511,400. |
|
5/08/2025 |
25-2906 |
Transmittal by the office of the Purchasing Agent of a project scheduled for advertisement for construction of the downtown tunnel flood mitigation lift station for Precinct 1. |
|
8/26/2025 |
25-5493 |
Request by the Office of Management and Budget for approval of commercial paper funding for the Office of the County Engineer for the Downtown Complex System Repairs and Mitigation project in the additional amount of $2,810,000 for a total CP funding of $3,970,000. |
|
9/18/2025 |
25-5962 |
Request for approval of an award based on low bid to MC2 Civil, LLC in the amount of $3,194,500 for construction of the Downtown Tunnel Flood Mitigation Lift Station for Precinct 1, and for the County Clerk to execute any applicable bonds to be received (250131), MWBE Contracted Goal: 9.12%. |
Address: 201 Caroline Street
Precinct(s): Countywide
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Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
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Service Name |
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Current Fiscal Year Cost |
Annual Fiscal Cost |
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Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
Recurring Expenses |
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Funding Sources |
|
|
Existing Budget |
|
|
|
|
|
Commercial Paper |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Total Current Budget |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Additional Budget Request |
|
|
Commercial Paper |
$ |
$1,500,000 |
$1,500,000 |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Additional Budget Request |
$ |
$1,500,000 |
$1,500,000 |
$ |
|
Total Funding Request |
$ |
$1,500,000 |
$1,500,000 |
$ |
|
Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new PCNs) |
|
|
Current Position Count for Service |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Additional Positions Request |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Total Personnel |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Anticipated Court Date: 1/29/2026
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): Click or tap to enter a date.
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or ARPA related item
Legal funding compliance confirmed by: Paige Abernathy, Special Assistant County Attorney, 1/21/2026
Department Approval by: Erwin Burden, P.E, CFM, Chief of Engineering and Architectural Services
Office of the County Engineer
OMB CIP Team Approval by: Wanwei Tang, Analyst - Capital Projects and Infrastructure, 1/20/2026
Commercial Paper Request (For OMB use only):
Receiving Department: County Engineer
Project PeopleSoft ID: MF0X2
CP Series Description: Commercial Paper Series D-2 can be used for (1) construction of public works, (2) the purchase of automobiles, equipment and machinery, including computers, materials and supplies for the operation of the County’s precincts and departments (3) Professional services, including services provided by engineers, architects, attorneys, auditors, financial advisors, and fiscal agents, in connection with the contractual obligations described in (1) and (2).
Commercial Paper is being requested for the Downtown Complex Tunnel System Repair and Mitigation project and is expected to be repaid within the next three fiscal years either through bonds, budgetary means or pay-as-you-go sources.
Note: Commercial Paper is issued in increments of $5,000 and the excess is not available to be spent by the department.
OMB Financial Management contact: Fahad Gulzar, Acting Deputy Executive Director, Office of Management and Budget