Staff recommends City Council approve submitting a Recreational Trails Program (RTP) grant to provide funding for this trail segment along the Torgerson property. 

The City of Billings is seeking Recreational Trails Program (RTP) grant funding for an approximately 380 ft. trail connection on the Torgerson's Real Estate Holdings, LLC (Torgerson's) property. The property was recently annexed into the City. This trail connection will connect the future trail on the north side of the Torgerson's property to the future trail on the south side of the property. Per the development agreement signed with the City upon annexation, the Torgerson's are required to build the separated path along the South Frontage Road on the north side of the property and are required to grant an easement for the trail along the southern edge of the property next to the Yellowstone River. The separated path along the South Frontage Road is a standard requirement for construction of an arterial street in the City. The trail along the southern portion of the property is a segment of the Marathon Loop Trail that intended to eventually loop around Billings. Staff understands that the Torgerson's and/or a future purchaser of a portion of the Torgerson property plan to apply for TIF funds through the South Billings Boulevard Urban Renwal District for the southern trail segment. If funded, this RTP application would fill in the gap between the northern path along the frontage road and southern trail segment. The trail connection will also be accessible from Riverfront Park as the Parks Department is building a bridge over the City/County Drain in fall 2022. 

The RTP grant is designated for the development of recreational trails and facilities to serve those trails. Grants are available for up to $100,000. The City will apply for up to $30,000 based on the estimated trail cost. The RTP grant provides reimbursement after monies have been expended. The grant requires a local match totaling 20% of the overall project cost. Oil spill settlement funds committed to the Parks Department and administered by the State of Montana will be used as the local match. These oil spill funds have been dedicated to the construction of a trailhead at this location. A gravel road already exists from S. Frontage Road to the location of the future trailhead. 

City Council may:

• Approve the submittal of a Recreational Trails Program Grant for this trail segment; or,
• Not Approve submittal of a Recreational Trails Program Grant for this trail segment. 

There is no disadvantage to the City in submitting this grant application. If the grant is not awarded, staff will continue to look for other options to fund the trails in this area. 
 

This Recreational Trails Program Grant application is being written to provide funding for the construction of a connector trail segment at the Torgerson property. The City will apply for up to $30,000. Oil spill settlement funds dedicated to the Parks Department will be used as the local match, so no City funds will go to the match. Staff will spend a small amount of time administering the grant, but expect to be able to hire an engineering firm to design and manage the trail project for this area.