Staff recommends the City Council approve the submittal of the 2021 Transportation Alternatives (TA) grant program for the Pioneer Park Trail Repaving Project and authorize the Planning Division to submit the grant application due June 4, 2021. 

The Transportation Alternatives (TA) grant program is provided for by federal funds that flow through the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT). MDT is required to award these funds through a competitive process. These funds can be allocated to pedestrian and bicycle-related projects. Project sponsors are required to provide a match equal to 13.42% of the total project cost. The application for this grant is due June 4, 2021. 

After consideration of upcoming projects, current plans, and available sources of matching funds, staff will submit an application, with Council's approval, for rehabilitation of the asphalt trail running through Pioneer Park from the Zimmerman Center to 3rd St. W. A map of this trail is attached. The path is currently in poor condition. In a survey of seniors and people with disabilities, the Healthy By Design coalition discovered that the poor condition of this trail is a barrier to these groups that prevents them from fully enjoying Pioneer Park. In addition, this path will be part of the bicycle boulevard that Public Works is constructing during the 2021 construction season. The current state of the trail is not conducive for bike riding for people of all ages and abilities, which the bicycle boulevard hopes to attract. The bicycle boulevard is listed as a priority project in the Billings Area Bikeway and Trails Master Plan.

The application requests that the top layer of the asphalt be removed and replaced with concrete. Concrete is a much longer-lasting material than asphalt and is expected to last 20 years or more as opposed to an 8-10 year lifespan for asphalt. The project is estimated at $188,727. This cost estimate includes Preliminary Engineering ($41,284.00), Construction Engineering ($29,488.57), construction ($77,057.00), contingency ($23,117.10), inflation ($6,100.60), and MDT's indirect cost rate ($11,679.59) for managing the project. The Engineering Division calculated the construction cost estimate and the rest of the factors were calculated based on grant requirements and guidelines. The Billings Parks and Recreation Department has agreed to commit the required 13.42% match for the project. The match totals $25,327.15. 

City Council may:

• Approve submittal of the grant application; or,
• Not Approve submittal of the grant application. 

There is no disadvantage to submitting the grant application. If the grant is not awarded, the matching funds will go back into the Parks and Recreation Department budget and staff will look for other ways to complete this trail improvement project in Pioneer Park. This grant opportunity illustrates the need discussed by City Council at its April 19 Work Session for a local fund for trail development in the City. In this case, the relative small scope of this project could be funded locally in its entirety, if a funding source existed, or the small local match needed could also be covered through a local dedicated trail funding source.

There is no cost to submit the grant application aside from the staff time to prepare the application. Should the grant be awarded, the Billings Parks and Recreation Department will provide the required match of $25,327.15. The TA grant would provide $163,399.72 towards the project. This grant would enable the City to replace the degraded trail through Pioneer Park at a very reasonable cost to the City.