Council approves ODOT agreement to design Creel Road–Bear Creek Greenway connector

The City of Talent approved an updated intergovernmental agreement with the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) on Jan. 15 to advance design work for a connector from Creel Road to the Bear Creek Greenway.

City staff said the agreement renews work on a project initiated about a decade ago to provide safer nonmotorized access from south Talent to the Greenway. The IGA covers engineering and design work with a project cost cited by staff of roughly $625,000 for the design phase; a local match of about 10–10.17% is required.

Why it matters: If advanced to construction, the connector would provide safer walking and bicycling connections to the Greenway and reduce reliance on constrained highway shoulders. Staff and council discussed funding options and were advised to pursue additional state or federal grants (including CMAQ) for construction, noting construction costs may later be considerably higher (staff estimated $1 million to $1.5 million for construction in discussion) and would require a larger match.

Council authorized the city manager to sign IGA number 730000034073 (as listed in the staff packet) and approved the agreement by motion. Staff and councilors noted the city can pursue other funding sources and that state or federal partners sometimes supplement local matches; the city will monitor opportunities and stay engaged with ODOT and regional grant processes.

The council’s vote authorizes ODOT to manage and deliver the design work on behalf of the city and directs staff to pursue additional funding sources to reduce the city’s eventual match for construction, if available.