The City of Billings submitted a Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant application for the Broadwater Avenue Path project. TAP has replaced the Community Transportation Enhancement Program (CTEP).  This program is a state-wide, competitive grant program and the City of Billings received a grant award for a 10’ wide hard-surfaced ADA multi-use trail facility on the north side of Broadwater Avenue from Zimmerman Trail to Shiloh Road. This approximately one mile trail segment will connect existing trails on Zimmerman Trail and Shiloh Road, as well as extend trail corridor connections along Broadwater Avenue east to Lillis Park.
 
This project, unlike the previous CTEP projects, is funded differently.  For this project, no local funds will be contributed as Broadwater is classified by MDT as an urban system route, therefore, any local match required will be paid by state MDT funds. Under the TAP program, state funds are allowed to be used as matching funds for the federal funds. In addition to the funding, the administration of the project will also be conducted by MDT, this will include all the federal requirements identified in the MAP-21 Transportation Bill. 
 
The Agreement attached to this memo 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 Agreement for the Broadwater Avenue Path to begin project development.

City Council may:

• Approve the Transportation Alternative Project Agreement, or;
• Disapprove the Transportation Alternative Project Agreement.  This would result in the loss of $421,470 in Federal and State funding for this project.

The funding breakdown for this project is as follows:

TAP Grant (Federal)	$ 364,910
MDT (State)	$    56,560
Total Funds Available	$ 421,470

Staff recommends that Council authorize the Mayor to execute the TAP Project Agreement for the Broadwater Avenue Path.