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Flagstaff council authorizes application for AZ Smart design grant to extend JW Powell to I‑17
Summary
Council voted to authorize a $2.3 million AZ Smart Fund application for design of a 1.4‑mile JW Powell extension to I‑17, including roundabouts and multimodal facilities; staff said construction could cost roughly $23.4 million and would require later federal or regional grants.
Ivy Koss, capital improvements engineering, asked the council for authorization to submit an AZ Smart Fund application to pay for the design phase of a proposed 1.4‑mile extension of JW Powell from Lake Mary Road to Interstate 17. Koss described the project scope — two roundabouts, multimodal bike lanes, pedestrian paths and a High Country Trail connection — and said the city is seeking approximately $2.3 million for design work.
"Once the grant is awarded, the city then has 2 years to apply for a federal grant to fund the construction portion of the project," Koss said. Staff estimated anticipated construction costs at about $23.4 million and explained that $200,000 was pulled forward in the current fiscal year to start early planning; an additional $14.3 million currently sits in fiscal 2030 of the capital plan as a placeholder.
Council members asked about land ownership, potential National Forest land swaps for segments crossing forest service land, multimodal elements (bike lanes and transit coordination with Mountain Line) and contingency plans if the design grant is not awarded. Staff said the design grant would create a shovel‑ready project and that construction could be pursued later through other grants or scope reductions.
Outcome: Council adopted resolution 2026‑01 authorizing the submission of the AZ Smart grant application for the JW Powell‑Lake Mary‑I‑17 project. Staff will proceed with the application and continue public outreach and design work if funded.
