Elkins seeks teams for streetscape & riverfront engineering (SOQs due Aug. 7)

ELKINS, W.Va. — The City of Elkins has issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) seeking engineering and urban-design teams to advance two interconnected downtown improvement efforts: streetscape upgrades and riverfront redevelopment along the Tygart Valley River.

City materials say the selected consultant is expected to refine existing concepts into construction-ready permit sets for multiple phases, while continuing public engagement throughout the design process so final choices reflect community input.

Key deadlines for engineering teams (and why residents should care)

The RFQ was posted with a procurement timeline that includes three dates residents may want to track:

• July 24, 2026: Deadline to submit questions about the RFQ.
• August 7, 2026 (by 5:00 p.m.): Statements of Qualifications (SOQs) due.
• September 15, 2026: The City’s tentative schedule calls for a recommendation to Council after SOQs are reviewed.

Even after the City makes a recommendation, the RFQ also states that final consultant selection and contract approval remain subject to approval by the Common Council.

What the selected team will be expected to do

Per the RFQ, the City’s anticipated scope includes both technical engineering work and design-support services for the streetscape and riverfront efforts, such as:

• Surveying and existing-conditions analysis
• Engineering and technical analysis
• Cost estimating and project phasing recommendations
• Utility and infrastructure coordination
• Permitting and regulatory coordination
• Production of preliminary and final construction-set design plans
• Bidding/procurement support
• Construction administration and implementation support
• Project close-out services (including reporting)
• Provision of as-built plans

The RFQ further emphasizes ongoing public engagement and stakeholder coordination throughout the design phase, along with experience integrating local arts, cultural assets, and historic context into public-space projects.

How this procurement connects to existing city plans

This solicitation is not starting from scratch. The City points to two background planning efforts that inform the concepts the consultant will help convert into permit-ready work:

Streetscape Improvement Plan: The City describes a downtown streetscape approach for Railroad Avenue, 1st Street, John Street, and Randolph Avenue (State Route 33), plus internal street connections. It also mentions reimagining Tablet Square at the Rail Depot and includes a phased approach for implementing improvements as funding becomes available.

Riverfront Plan: The City describes a master plan focused on improving the Tygart Valley River’s appeal, accessibility, recreation, and economic potential—featuring elements such as trail enhancements, fishing access points, wayfinding signage, bridge improvements, water access, and public art.

What to watch next after Aug. 7

This is an early procurement step, not a construction award. But because the RFQ work is designed to translate concepts into permit-ready sets—and because the City anticipates ongoing public engagement—this is a period when the direction of later streetscape and riverfront changes can still be influenced.

After SOQs are submitted, watch for City updates around the review process (including any interviews/presentations or negotiations mentioned in the RFQ) and for the September 15, 2026 recommendation-to-Council step. Any Common Council action that follows will be the key formal checkpoint for residents.

Sources

• City of Elkins RFQ announcement: “Statements of Qualifications – Streetscape & Riverfront” (city notice)