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Commission approves pursuing federal carbon-reduction funds to complete Sand Creek bike-path gap
Summary
The commission authorized staff to accept and pursue an 80/20 carbon reduction grant for the Sand Creek bike-path extension, accepting an estimated city match of $728,000 to complete a predesign estimate of $3.64 million; staff will return with grant documents for review.
City staff recommended and the Newton City Commission approved pursuing federal carbon-reduction funds administered through the state to complete a missing Sand Creek path segment, a project staff estimated at about $3.64 million in predesign cost.
"We submitted for this and went through a pretty rigorous process," staff member Suzanne said, describing the pathway segment that would fill a gap from the dam south of First Street to Southwest 14th Street and include an ADA-accessible 10-foot-wide path, a footbridge over the Boyd Street channel, retaining walls and a covered underpass beneath the railroad trestle.
Staff told commissioners the Kansas Department of Transportation–administered Carbon Reduction Program would cover roughly 80 percent of eligible costs and leave an estimated local share of about $728,000. The predesign estimate is approximately $3,640,000; staff proposed financing the local share with 20-year bonds that would produce an estimated annual debt service of about $57,000 paid from the general fund.
Commissioners discussed schedule and rail-crossing risks, including the need to negotiate right-of-way and operational requirements with BNSF. Suzanne said the state contacted the city on Dec. 23 offering the funding; staff noted the state required an answer by the following day and recommended authorization to execute grant documents subject to review by the city engineer, city manager and city attorney. A commissioner asked whether the city would be bound if BNSF later proved an obstacle; staff said right-of-way and railroad approvals remain prerequisites and that staff would return grant documents to the commission as needed.
A motion to authorize staff to proceed with the grant agreement and to sign documents subject to city staff and legal review passed by voice vote without a recorded roll-call tally.
