Saginaw council approves submitting MDOT grant application to complete downtown segment of Iron Bell Trail, pledges $438,327 match

The Saginaw City Council voted to authorize staff to submit a Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) Transportation Alternatives Program grant application for the Iron Bell Trail North Connector Project and committed a 40% city match of participating costs — $438,327 — if the application is successful.

The project would fill a roughly 0.3‑mile gap through downtown Saginaw to link the Iron Bell Trail from the Milwaukee Township area to Vassar, crossing the Saginaw River and passing under three bridges. Wayne Hoffman, a consultant for public services with Wade Trim, told council the grant is federal funding administered by MDOT and that the application is due Feb. 19; MDOT typically notifies applicants in the second quarter whether projects are funded.

Hoffman said the application team recommends a 40% city match to be competitive statewide and described the proposed route and likely construction constraints. "This would basically connect from the Milwaukee township all the way to Vassar," Hoffman said, noting the connector would cross the river, run under three bridges and include sections where bicycles and cars will share the roadway because existing bridges and street widths preclude a separated path. He said MDOT would not…