Regular 5.
Regular City Council Meeting
- Meeting Date:
- 02/24/2014
- TITLE
- Recreational Trails Program Grant - Multiple Trail Links
- PRESENTED BY:
- Candi Millar
- Department:
- Planning & Community Services
Presentation:
PROBLEM/ISSUE STATEMENT
The City of Billings is seeking funding for trail linkages in Stewart Park, Descro Park and Lillis Park. The Recreational Trails Program (RTP) Grant for the year 2014 is due March 1, 2014. City Council is being asked for approval to submit this grant request for $28,428. The RTP grant provides reimbursement after monies have been expended for construction and requires a 20% local match. The match of $7,107.00 will be donated by BikeNet and Lucky’s Market.
Funding from the Recreational Trails Program is being considered because funding through the Community Transportation Enhancements Program (CTEP) is no longer available. Due to the loss of this funding stream, staff is pursuing all possible funding opportunities. There are currently no large funding sources available beyond those already committed. Staff is requesting funding from the Recreational Trails Program grant to provide key commercial, transit, student and neighborhood connections to improve the quality of service provided within the existing trail network.
The Stewart Park trail link would provide a hard surface, ADA accessible, 10-foot wide trail for bicycle and pedestrian traffic (see attached site plan). The trail is approximately 180 feet in length. This connection will provide a link from the trail in the southern portion of Stewart Park to the southeast corner of the local access road. This connection will provide access to the West End Transfer Center and Rimrock Mall. The project cost is approximately $12,420. The grant will pay $9,936 and Lucky's Market and BikeNet have agreed to contribute the $2,484 local match.
The Lillis Park trail link would provide a hard surface, 10-foot wide, multi-use trail from the sidewalk along the north side of Broadwater to an existing trail in the park. The link is approximately 215 linear feet with an estimated project cost of $14,835. This connection will provide a direct path from the existing pedestrian refuge to the park trail. The grant will be for $11,868 and Lucky's and BikeNet have agreed to provide the $2,967 local match.
The Descro Park link would provide a 10-foot wide, hard surfaced trail from the existing park trail to the road terminus on 28th Street West. This link is approximately 120 feet of trail, connecting to the adjacent residential neighborhood and to the commercial center on Central, east of Descro Park. The estimated project cost is $8,280 and the grant will be $6,624. Lucky's Market and BikeNet have agreed to contribute $1,656 of required local match.
Funding from the Recreational Trails Program is being considered because funding through the Community Transportation Enhancements Program (CTEP) is no longer available. Due to the loss of this funding stream, staff is pursuing all possible funding opportunities. There are currently no large funding sources available beyond those already committed. Staff is requesting funding from the Recreational Trails Program grant to provide key commercial, transit, student and neighborhood connections to improve the quality of service provided within the existing trail network.
The Stewart Park trail link would provide a hard surface, ADA accessible, 10-foot wide trail for bicycle and pedestrian traffic (see attached site plan). The trail is approximately 180 feet in length. This connection will provide a link from the trail in the southern portion of Stewart Park to the southeast corner of the local access road. This connection will provide access to the West End Transfer Center and Rimrock Mall. The project cost is approximately $12,420. The grant will pay $9,936 and Lucky's Market and BikeNet have agreed to contribute the $2,484 local match.
The Lillis Park trail link would provide a hard surface, 10-foot wide, multi-use trail from the sidewalk along the north side of Broadwater to an existing trail in the park. The link is approximately 215 linear feet with an estimated project cost of $14,835. This connection will provide a direct path from the existing pedestrian refuge to the park trail. The grant will be for $11,868 and Lucky's and BikeNet have agreed to provide the $2,967 local match.
The Descro Park link would provide a 10-foot wide, hard surfaced trail from the existing park trail to the road terminus on 28th Street West. This link is approximately 120 feet of trail, connecting to the adjacent residential neighborhood and to the commercial center on Central, east of Descro Park. The estimated project cost is $8,280 and the grant will be $6,624. Lucky's Market and BikeNet have agreed to contribute $1,656 of required local match.
ALTERNATIVES ANALYZED
The City Council may:
- Approve the submittal of a Recreational Trails Program Grant application for several trail link projects estimated to cost $35,535. The grant request is for $28,428. The local match funding of $7,107 will be provided by BikeNet and Lucky’s Market.
- Not approve the submittal of a Recreational Trails Program Grant for a portion of the trail link projects.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
This Recreational Trails Program grant application is being submitted to provide funding for the trail links described above. The application request is for $28,428. This grant provides reimbursement after monies have been expended for the development and requires a 20% match. The match, totaling $7,107, will be donated by BikeNet and Lucky’s Market. This grant and the local match will be the sole funding sources for these projects.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council approve a Recreational Trails Program grant application to provide funding for several trail connections and authorize the Mayor to sign all grant documents.