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Casper council gives staff go-ahead to apply for TAP grant for South Side river pathway
Summary
City staff will complete a Transportation Alternatives Program application to fund a roughly $550,000 pathway and ADA overlook on the south side of the North Platte River; the city would provide about a 10% match and still needs easements and landowner agreements.
City Manager Carter told the Casper City Council the city intends to pursue a Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant to fund pedestrian-pathway improvements on the south side of the North Platte River, including an ADA-accessible overlook and connection from a recently funded pedestrian bridge to First Street.
Tom Brower, the city’s engineering lead on the project, said the total project cost is roughly $550,000 and that TAP grants are competitive but favorable for projects that improve safe pedestrian routes; TAP requires that a project be designed before application and typically carries a 10% local match.
“We'd like to get your permission to complete the application,” Tom Brower said. He noted the grant deadline around June 27 and that the city’s match would be about $57,000 in reserves if awarded. Brower said some easement work and landowner relationship steps remain even if the grant is successful.
Councilors asked whether the previously funded Poplar Street bridge work and the $4 million bridge project would affect this pathway; staff explained the bridge project and the pathway application are related in the corridor, and earlier bridge design funding rolls into the city match where applicable. Brower also said Wyoming Department of Transportation officials do not plan a Poplar Street bridge replacement in the near term (the estimate discussed was 10–14 years), which informs the city’s decision to advance a separate pedestrian bridge and pathway now.
Council consensus authorized staff to finish and submit the TAP application and proceed with the public-engagement and design steps required for the grant application. Council did not take a formal vote at the meeting; staff recorded direction to proceed.
