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Item 1.F.
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| City Council Regular | |
| Date: | 01/08/2024 |
| Title: | Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Recreational Trails and Trail Stewardship Grant Applications |
| Presented by: | Ted Wilson, Grants Coordinator |
| Department: | City Hall Administration |
| Presentation: | No |
| Legal Review: | Not Applicable |
| Project Number: | N/A |
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that Council approve submittal of the Recreational Trails Program and Trail Stewardship Grant Program grant applications to Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, and approve acceptance of the grants should they be awarded.
BACKGROUND (Consistency with Adopted Plans and Policies, if applicable)
The City of Billings is seeking grant funding from both the Recreational Trails Program (RTP) and Trail Stewardship Grant Program (TSGP). The RTP application would fund Phase II of the Rose Park trail and the TSGP would fund construction of the Stagecoach Trail. Both projects are in the City Council adopted 2017 Billings Area Bikeway and Trails Master Plan. The Rose Park Phase II project is also included in the CIty Council adopted 2022 Safe Routes to School Plan Update.
The TSGP grant application would help the City fulfill its local match to the previously awarded Transportation Alternatives (federal/state pass-through) grant for construction of the Stagecoach Trail that will run to the east and below the existing Zimmerman Trail motor route as it climbs from Rimrock Road to Highway 3. The route will connect the West End and downtown to the Heights via the Northwest Connector trail currently under construction, and provide access to the Skyline Trail, Sword's Park, and Zimmerman Park. The grant requires a $805,000 match from the City. That match had originally been planned to come from passage of the parks bond. With that effort failing, the City must secure other non-federal funding. Billings TrailNet has contributed $100,000 and continues to fundraise for the Stagecoach project, which is currently their top priority project. The TSGP would provide another $100,000, leaving about $600,000 local match to identify. The project is in the 2025-29 CIP.
The RTP grant application would fund Phase II of the Rose Park Trail project. The City received Phase I funding from the RTP this past year. Phase I included new trail construction from Rose Park Elementary School toward Rose Park and the apartments directly west of the park. Phase II will complete the connection from Phase I to an existing trail on the northeast side of the park, as well as repair the Rose Park trail from the east end to the west end of the park. The completed trail will provide a more direct route from the apartment complexes on Avenue C to Rose Park School, as well as access to users of the BBWA Canal Trail segment and bridges completed in 2022 and other neighborhood pathways.
The TSGP would provide $100,000 in funding with a required 10% match (provided by TrailNet). The RTP would also provide $75,000 in funding but require a 20% match (provided by the Parks and Recreation Matching Grant Program and Billings TrailNET). The Parks Department, Planning Division, and Public Works Department are supportive of this trail project and the applications for funding.
The TSGP grant application would help the City fulfill its local match to the previously awarded Transportation Alternatives (federal/state pass-through) grant for construction of the Stagecoach Trail that will run to the east and below the existing Zimmerman Trail motor route as it climbs from Rimrock Road to Highway 3. The route will connect the West End and downtown to the Heights via the Northwest Connector trail currently under construction, and provide access to the Skyline Trail, Sword's Park, and Zimmerman Park. The grant requires a $805,000 match from the City. That match had originally been planned to come from passage of the parks bond. With that effort failing, the City must secure other non-federal funding. Billings TrailNet has contributed $100,000 and continues to fundraise for the Stagecoach project, which is currently their top priority project. The TSGP would provide another $100,000, leaving about $600,000 local match to identify. The project is in the 2025-29 CIP.
The RTP grant application would fund Phase II of the Rose Park Trail project. The City received Phase I funding from the RTP this past year. Phase I included new trail construction from Rose Park Elementary School toward Rose Park and the apartments directly west of the park. Phase II will complete the connection from Phase I to an existing trail on the northeast side of the park, as well as repair the Rose Park trail from the east end to the west end of the park. The completed trail will provide a more direct route from the apartment complexes on Avenue C to Rose Park School, as well as access to users of the BBWA Canal Trail segment and bridges completed in 2022 and other neighborhood pathways.
The TSGP would provide $100,000 in funding with a required 10% match (provided by TrailNet). The RTP would also provide $75,000 in funding but require a 20% match (provided by the Parks and Recreation Matching Grant Program and Billings TrailNET). The Parks Department, Planning Division, and Public Works Department are supportive of this trail project and the applications for funding.
ALTERNATIVES
City Council may:
- Approve; or,
- Not Approve
FISCAL EFFECTS
The City is already in receipt of $4.7 million in Stagecoach Trail funding from the Transportation Alternatives grant, as well as $100,000 in support from TrailNet. If awarded the $100,000 TSGP grant, the City would still need about $600,000 in match funding - which may be reallocated from other City funds. The Rose Park Phase II project would be funded at about $75,000 from RTP, requiring a 20% (about $11,000) project cost match. Both projects are slated to begin construction in FY25.