City staff on Dec. 17 told the council they intend to submit a USDOT RAISE grant application to fund planning and engineering that would move the I-74 riverfront area from a vision plan to designs ready for implementation.

Grant coordinator Miss Temple (grant staff) said the application — titled I-74 Riverfront Reimagined — targets the U.S. DOT planning/technical-assistance funding round with a Jan. 30 deadline and would fund engineering design, pre-environmental planning and a benefits-cost analysis. She said the scope includes pedestrian and bicycle connections, a new bus stop and a new water-taxi stop to create an intermodal site, plus measures for safety, resilience and economic access.

Temple said the project builds on prior work including the MKSK riverfront development plan and focuses a smaller engineering scope (site-level street and right-of-way design) that can be advanced toward implementation. Because the targeted area is urban and includes disadvantaged areas, the application may not require a local match; staff nevertheless plan to pursue additional state matching grants to strengthen the submission.

City staff outlined a timeline: application submission Jan. 30, award notifications by June 30, and approximately six months of negotiated conditions with USDOT before final award. Temple estimated the planning/design request would be in the $5.5–6.5 million range for engineering and pre-construction readiness; if awarded, the city would pursue an implementation round in FY26 or FY27.

Council members asked about how previously completed public engagement (MKSK plan and recent outreach) would be included; Temple said staff and consultants will incorporate prior community engagement and that Renew (local partner) will help craft the narrative. The council was briefed that MKSK’s remaining work would wrap up in January and that site-acquisition and DOT right-of-way discussions are ongoing.

Ending — Staff asked for the council’s endorsement to proceed with application preparation and consultant support; no formal funding commitment or award was before the council at this meeting.