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County staff to submit last-minute MDOT bikeways grant for 3 Notch Trail phase; could halve St. Mary's share
Summary
Staff told the county commissioners that the Maryland Bikeways/MDOT invited an early application and the county plans to seek $470,180 in state funding to reduce its match for phase 6 of the 3 Notch Trail and accelerate construction into FY2013.
St. Mary's County moved this week to pursue a last-minute state bikeways grant that county staff said could cut the county's cost for a section of the 3 Notch Trail by roughly half.
Staff said the Maryland Department of Transportation bikeways program contacted the county on May 10 and asked the county to submit a grant application earlier than planned. The requested grant is $470,180 and would be applied to construction of phase 6 of the 3 Notch Trail, staff told commissioners at the May 14 budget work session.
Why it matters: If the grant is awarded, the county's local funding requirement for the phase would fall by roughly 50 percent and the county could move construction activity forward into fiscal 2013. Staff emphasized the application is competitive and not guaranteed.
A county staff member said the administration would ask the board for formal concurrence so the application could be sent electronically by May 16. Commissioners discussed moving most of the project's spending into FY2013 to encourage timely procurement and contract awards if the grant is received. The county finance staff also noted that state rules typically require grant funds to be spent within 24 months of award.
Commissioner questions at the session covered whether the county could execute contracts quickly enough to spend the money within the state window and whether the grant would change park impact-fee and bond planning shown in the CIP. Staff said moving the local funding into FY2013 would motivate procurement and reduce the risk of delay.
Ending: County staff said they would return with a formal concurrence request and a revised CIP showing the project moved into FY2013 if commissioners agreed to pursue the grant application.
