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Pocatello staff to submit USDOT RTA pilot grant application for municipal service impact analysis at airport/Crest area; ratification planned April 17
Summary
Planning staff sought council assent to submit a $500,000 U.S. Department of Transportation Rural and Tribal Assistance (RTA) pilot grant application to fund a municipal service impact analysis covering the Crest development and city‑owned airport lands; staff will seek ratification and acceptance if awarded at the April 17 council meeting.
City planning staff informed the council at the April 3 work session that they intend to apply for a $500,000 U.S. Department of Transportation Rural and Tribal Assistance (RTA) pilot program grant to fund a municipal service impact analysis for airport and adjacent Crest development areas.
Christine Howe and Brent McClain explained the application timeline and purpose. McClain, planning and development services director, said the study would analyze infrastructure needs — water, sewer, roads and other municipal services — across the city‑owned airport property and the Crest development footprint to inform future infrastructure grants and phased build‑out. He said the grant requires no local match and would place the city in a stronger position to pursue construction grants for streets and utilities once the impact analysis and preliminary engineering are complete.
Howe told council the application deadline was April 17, 2025 at 3 p.m. because DOT’s announcement followed a short notice window; the city’s legal review cleared the application and staff asked council to allow staff to submit the application now and return with a ratification and acceptance of any award at the April 17 regular council meeting. McClain said awards are on a rolling basis, staff proposed an 18‑month project period and anticipated award notices in June; he added DOT may allow up to three years for performance if needed.
Council members asked whether the analysis would cover non‑airspace municipal land as well as issues that touch airport airspace. McClain said the focus is on non‑airspace infrastructure needs but acknowledged interdependencies (for example, water for fire suppression) across the airport system and said the airport master plan would inform the study. The city indicated it elected to apply as a single entity rather than a multi‑entity application to avoid MOUs and other documentation given the application timeline, while planning to involve Power County and Bannock County in the work if awarded.
Council members indicated general support; staff said they would submit the application and bring a ratification and acceptance item to council on April 17. If council later declined ratification, staff said they would withdraw the application or decline the award.
