The City of Billings is seeking funding for the trail link under Aronson Bridge and back out to the Swords Lane by Airport Road. The Recreational Trails Program (RTP) grant for the year 2013 is due on August 1, 2012, so the City Council is being asked for approval to submit this grant application. The RTP grant is designated for the development of trails and grants are available for up to $45,000 with this application. The RTP grant provides reimbursement after monies have been expended for construction and requires a 20% local match. The match of $9,000 for the $45,000 is expected to be provided through a BikeNet contribution.

The Aronson Bridge trail link project would construct a hard surface, ADA accessible, 10-foot wide hard surfaced trail for bicycle and pedestrian traffic (See attached site plan). The trail is approximately 1,500 linear feet in length. This connection will provide a link from the trail on the west side of Swords Park north to the sidewalk just east of Swords Lane on the north side of Airport Road. This project was approved for CTEP funding as follows: CTEP Funds: $205,498; City of Billings/Local Match: $31,852; Total Project Cost: $237,350. The local CTEP match is expected to come from BikeNet and any grant funding like this RTP grant. If this RTP grant is awarded, it is likely to reduce both the total CTEP funds needed for the project as well as the total BikeNet contribution needed for local match. Staff will not know exactly how much reduction there may be until after a grant award.

The City Council may:

• Approve the submittal of a Recreational Trails Program Grant for a portion of the Aronson trail link project
• Not approve the submittal of a Recreational Trails Program Grant for a portion of the Aronson trail link project. While local match funding for this project is expected through BikeNet, any additional grant funding from the RTP grant could off-set some local match and/or reduce the overall CTEP contribution. 

This Recreational Trails Program Grant application is being written to provide some funding for the link from the trail along Swords Park north, under the Aronson Bridge and up to the Swords Bypass cul-de-sac on the east side of Aronson. The application will request $45,000 which is the maximum amount the City could receive. This grant provides reimbursement after monies have been expended for the development and requires a 20% match. The match, which will not exceed $9,000, can be awarded from BikeNet. This project has been approved for CTEP funding as follows: CTEP Funds: $205,498; City of Billings/Local Match: $31,852; Total Project Cost: $237,350. The local match is expected to come from BikeNet and any grant funding like this RTP grant. RTP funds could help offset the BikeNet contribution and potentially reduce the overall CTEP amount designated for this project.

Staff recommends that Council approve the submittal of a Recreational Trails Program grant for a portion of the Aronson trail link and authorize the Mayor to sign the grant application.