BikeNet, a local advocacy group for trails, is proposing to donate to the City of Billings $64,000 to assist in the construction of the 25th Street Pedestrian Bridge, the Broadwater Trail Connection, and the design and engineering of a short section of trail north of Airport Road through Swords Park North that will tie into the bike/pedestrian underpasses built under Alkali Creek Road and Airport Road. BikeNet has secured these funds from donations through its annual Ales for Trails fund raising event to help develop trails in the Billings’ community. CTA, Architects and Engineers, has been a major contributor to the Ales for Trails event over the past 10 years, having given over $20,000 in cash and in-kind services. It should also be recognized that without CTA’s generosity and help, this $64,000 gift would not be possible.

The City of Billings received local approval through the Policy Coordinating Committee in October 2010 for Community Transportation Enhancement Program (CTEP) funding for the 25th Street Pedestrian Bridge and the Broadwater Trail Connection projects. The City of Billings is required to provide a local match of 13.42% for the CTEP dollars that are used for trail projects. The BikeNet Board of Directors has voted to provide $25,000 to the City of Billings for a portion of the local match for the 25th Street Pedestrian Bridge project and $35,000 for the local match for the Broadwater Connection Trail. BikeNet also voted to give up to $4,000 for the design and engineering of the section of trail through Swords Park North that will tie into the bike/pedestrian underpasses built under Alkali Creek Road and Airport Road. All three of these projects are included in the 2012-2016 Draft CIP and are expected to be built in 2011-2012. Council approval is needed to accept the BikeNet contribution of $64,000 for these projects.

The City Council may:

• Accept the $64,000 donation from BikeNet to help complete the three trail projects identified, or
• Not accept the $64,000 donation from BikeNet to help complete the three trail projects identified and search elsewhere for the needed local match funding.

The 25th Street Bridge project estimated cost is $830,000 and requires a local match of 13.42% or $111,386. BikeNet would provide $25,000 toward this required match, or 22% of the total local match needed. Multiple other grant and organization sources will make up the additional $86,386 in local match needed for this project. The Broadwater Trail Connection project is estimated to cost $259,000 and the local required match is almost $35,000, which BikeNet will provide. In order to bid out the Swords Park North trail project as an addendum to the main Swords Park Trail Phase II project, the design and engineering needs to be completed prior requesting construction bids. BikeNet's gift of $4,000 would provide funds to complete the design and engineering.

Staff recommends that Council approve the donation of $25,000 from BikeNet for the 25th Street Bridge, $35,000 for the Broadwater Connection Trail and $4,000 for the design and engineering of the trail through Swords Park North.