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Post Falls authorizes grant application to widen Prairie Avenue; city match set at about $308,000
Summary
City engineers presented a proposal to widen Prairie Avenue to five lanes (Greens Ferry to Cecil); estimated current cost $4.4 million, with state-administered federal block grant expected to cover ~93% and a city cash match of ~$308,000. Council authorized the grant application.
City Engineer Robert Paulus asked the Post Falls City Council on Nov. 19 to authorize an application for a state-administered federal block grant to widen Prairie Avenue between Greens Ferry Road and Cecil Road to five lanes.
Paulus told council the corridor is a critical arterial and the proposed work would include roadway widening to five lanes, missing sidewalks, curb and gutter, roadway lighting and a three-quarter-turn restriction between Charleville and Greens Ferry. He said one parcel will likely require right-of-way acquisition.
Paulus estimated the project's cost in today's dollars at about $4.4 million; staff estimated the state-administered federal grant would cover roughly 93% of the cost, leaving an estimated city cash match of $308,000 and a $25,000 in-kind staff match for project management. Paulus noted project development takes several years and with inflation the city's estimate could grow to about $5.3 million by 2031.
Councilors expressed support for seeking outside funding to improve east-west connectivity north of U.S. 90, saying it will relieve pressure on local streets. Council voted to authorize the resolution to apply for the grant.
Next steps: staff will submit the block grant application and continue coordinating with the Post Falls Highway District and regional partners on project timing and design.
