Kenosha authorizes city engineer to sign FHWA grant for multiuse path; $1.7M local gap remains

The Kenosha Public Works Committee on Nov. 10 authorized the city engineer to sign a Federal Highway Administration grant agreement to build a multiuse path from 35th Street to 52nd Street, including a pedestrian overpass at Washington Road and 52nd Street.

The agenda packet lists the FHWA award at $5,180,000.00; during the presentation a Public Works staff member referred to the grant as worth $5,580,000.00 and said the grant had at one point appeared lost before being reinstated—staff said the grant agreement is now ready to be signed so the project can proceed. Staff estimated the total project cost at approximately $7,280,000, leaving an estimated $1.7 million to be covered by the city’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP). Staff said they will explore additional funding sources before bringing any CIP amendment forward.

Committee members asked whether the section would be city-owned or turned over to the county; staff said the new section will be city-owned and will connect to the Kent development and the county bike trail. Members also raised concerns about property ownership along the alignment; staff said negotiations with the owner identified in the packet (referred to in the meeting as “We Energy’s property”) are part of advancing the project.

A committee member credited U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin with supporting the project’s federal funding. After discussion, the committee moved, seconded and unanimously approved authorization for the city engineer to sign the grant agreement. Staff will return with recommendations to reconcile CIP funding and identify other funding options before construction proceeds.