Council Agrees to Apply for Active Transportation Grant, Supports School District Safe Routes Application

The New Prague City Council voted to submit an application for an MnDOT Active Transportation grant to extend a trail/sidewalk through an industrial park and along Twelfth Avenue, and separately adopted a resolution supporting the New Prague Area School District’s Safe Routes to School grant application for improvements near three schools.

Staff said the active transportation application would request approximately $303,300 in grant funding and require a local match of about $75,825 to cover engineering and design costs. To qualify the industrial‑park trail under the program, staff described a short extension—about 150–200 feet—to connect the trail to a major collector and the North‑South trail; staff said the city has the 2025 CIP funding to cover design work if the grant requires a local match and noted the EDA has been responsible for planning the industrial property since 2015.

On the Safe Routes to School item, staff noted the New Prague Area School District is the applicant and that the city would act as project sponsor because it is a state‑aid city; staff emphasized there is no upfront city construction or implementation commitment at this stage but said the city would verify long‑term maintenance responsibilities if the grant is awarded. The Safe Routes proposal would include solar reflective beacons at three locations and a new sidewalk on the south side of Twelfth Street to improve walking access to the community center and schools.

Both resolutions were approved by voice vote. Staff said the active transportation application will be submitted in mid‑January and that changes in MnDOT criteria for 2025 may improve the city’s chances of success.