The City of Billings submitted a Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) Community Transportation Enhancement Project (CTEP) grant application for the 25th Street Pedestrian Bridge in October 2010. This project will consist of using and placing an existing, restored Carnegie steel bridge structure over the railroad tracks near 25th Street South. This bridge will provide a direct connection from the South Side and the Old Town Historic District (Minnesota Avenue) and Montana Avenue Historic District and the downtown. The project was approved through the local CTEP project selection process involving the City Council, Board of County Commissioners and Planning Board, and also was approved by MDT. The Policy Coordinating Committee (PCC) approved this project at its regular meeting on October 19, 2010. The Project Specific Agreement represents the formal agreement between the City and MDT for the project’s scope, funding, and federal aid compliance. Council must authorize the Mayor to execute a Project Specific Agreement for the 25th Street Pedestrian Bridge Project to begin project development this spring.

The City Council may:
• Approve the CTEP Project Specific Agreement.
• Not approve the CTEP Project Specific Agreement. This would result in the loss of CTEP funding for this project.

The funding breakdown for this project is as follows:

CTEP Grant	$718,614
BikeNet	$ 25,000
Sample Foundation	$ 10,000
Conoco Phillips Refinery	$ 18,000
Qwest Refund (city)	$ 20,000
Donation/ Grants	$ 38,386
Total Funds Available	$830,000

Staff recommends that Council authorize the Mayor to execute the CTEP Project Specific Agreement for the 25th Street Pedestrian Bridge Project.