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Albany County applies for up to $2.5 million in USDOT planning funds for Skyline Road and I-80 overpass
Summary
The Board approved an application to the U.S. Department of Transportation Rural and Tribal Assistance pilot program for planning of Skyline Road, the 30th Street/I-80 overpass and related design work. The county said the city of Laramie is a partner; the application amount is not to exceed $2,500,000.
Albany County commissioners on Thursday approved an application to the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Rural and Tribal Assistance pilot program seeking up to $2.5 million to fund planning and design work for Skyline Road, the 30th Street/I-80 overpass and related corridor planning.
Jacob Baylidge, the county project lead, told the commissioners the program doubled available funds this year compared with prior cycles and that the county expanded its original, smaller application to re-include the 30th Street overpass and additional design elements. Baylidge said the city of Laramie has agreed to partner on the project and the county expects to execute a memorandum of understanding with the city if the award is made.
"This is the same project I've brought to you multiple times," Baylidge said. "I am, like, determined to find funding for this at this point." He described the grant as a planning-phase award that would make the corridor shovel-ready and position the county to pursue larger construction funds later.
Baylidge said certain right-of-way tasks have already been advanced by county staff because many grant programs expect right-of-way and related work to be complete or well-developed before construction funding is sought. The USDOT pilot program is intended to help rural jurisdictions get planning and design work done so they can compete for larger federal construction funding.
The board voted to approve the application in an amount not to exceed $2,500,000; one commissioner abstained from the vote because of an ownership interest in property directly involved in the project and disclosed that conflict on the record. The motion carried.
If awarded, the county would take the lead on planning and design work, with the city and WYDOT as partners; staff said Jake (road staff) would lead the county technical team. The county will continue to pursue additional federal funding for construction if the planning grant is awarded.
(Reporting note: Direct quotes and attributions are drawn from the meeting transcript.)
