Council backs regional SS 4 a grant to study Lincoln Highway turn lane, pledges conditional 20% match

The Nevada City Council approved a resolution expressing the city's support for the Central Iowa Regional Transportation Planning Alliance’s SS 4 a grant submission to pursue roadway safety and turn-lane improvements on Lincoln Highway.

Council approved the resolution after brief discussion about whether backing the regional application obligates the city to spend local funds. Staff said support does not create an automatic spending obligation; the city would decide whether to accept funds and proceed if the grant were awarded.

Why it matters: the project aims to address a history of accidents on Lincoln Highway by studying a continuous turn lane and related safety improvements. If pursued, the SS 4 a submission cited a project scope of about $3.3 million with the city responsible for 20% (about $660,000) and federal sources providing about 80%. The submission deadline was reported as June 26; staff said the city must list the intended local funding source in the application.

Jordan, a staff member, described the regional approach and local coordination: “This is for the SS 4 a grant. The SS 4 a grant is an accumulative grant that multiple cities go after. You have to have $25,000,000 in order to do it. I believe when we get the funds, we decide whether or not we still wanna continue down that path and and do it.” Jordan said he had discussed the project with Key Co-op, Lincoln Way and Verbio and that each stressed the importance of a turn lane because “there's been accidents, several accidents.”

Staff explained the grant requires listing a local funding source in the application; the city has identified available funds to meet the 20% local share if it chooses to proceed. Staff also discussed including a multiuse trail segment in the grant to connect to Ames; coordination with Ames officials would be required to ensure the trail alignment met both cities’ safety and spacing requirements.

Council asked whether the resolution “shoehorns us into guaranteed money that we have to spend.” Staff responded that the application does not obligate the city to accept funds; the council would make a later decision on whether to accept an award and commit local funding. The council approved the resolution and staff said they will return with details and a subsequent meeting if the grant is awarded.