Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - The Rochester City Council is being asked to reject a bid for a major portion of the work associated with the upcoming Link Bus Rapid Transit System as part of the Destination Medical Center project.

According to Destination Medical Center Economic Development Agency Executive Director Patrick Seeb, the bid covers the development of an underground pedestrian subway under 2nd Street Southwest next to St. Mary's Hospital, and construction of the bus stop shelters and BRT platforms along the route of the transit system. It also includes underground utility work, curb, gutter, sidewalk, driveway, signage, landscaping, and other various construction associated with the project.

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City officials earlier indicated that the low bid for the work came in at around $57 million, which is well above the estimate of around $30 million. Seeb says the contractor has since withdrawn the bid due to some errors discovered in the 4000 page document.

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Seeb says the DMC and the city are now expected to engage in discussions with potential bidders for the project to determine why the proposals came in so much higher than budgeted. He also indicated there could be discussions with the Federal Transit Administration to see if it would allow any modifications to the plans that could lower the cost without risking the loss of the nearly $85 million in funding for the project that has already been approved by the agency. Last year, the overall price tag of the project was estimated at around $145 million, but that has now been increased to approximately $175 million.

READ MORE: Feds Give Final Approval For Rochester’s Link Bus Rapid Transit

Depending on the outcome of those discussions, Seeb says the city and the DMC could potentially put out another request for bids in the next week or two. He says it's also possible that the city could split the project into smaller pieces and potentially attract additional contractors for the work. Seeb says that could delay the process of seeking bids by around six weeks.

The city hopes to begin construction of the project this year and has indicated that the Bus Rapid Transit system could be operational by the end of 2026. It is being designed to transport Mayo Clinic employees and patients, along with other visitors to the city and its residents along a 2.8 mile route from the planned West Transit Village near Cascade Lake along 2nd Street Southwest through downtown Rochester to the Riverfront area in the vicinity of the former Kmart store location in Southeast Rochester. Mayo Clinic has already agreed to provide funding that will allow people to utilize the transit system without paying a fare.