Mobile City Council authorizes application for up to $25 million DOT Water Street grant

The Mobile City Council on Jan. 13 authorized the mayor to apply for a U.S. Department of Transportation leveraged development grant of up to $25 million to support the Water Street Complete Streets corridor improvement project. The grant authorization was introduced as a resolution during the council's pre-meeting.

City staff told the council the grant requires an application in the DOT portal and that the proposal submitted would cover the full project from design through execution, though detailed design is not yet complete. "It's actually due at the February," one staff member said, adding the agenda item allows the mayor to certify the application and open the portal for submission.

Council members asked for follow-up information and detailed plans before the project proceeds. One member said they were "anxious to see those plans," and staff responded the application package would allow the city to apply now and develop detailed design after portal opening. The clerk's item on the agenda noted the grant would require no local match.

The resolution as introduced does not commit local matching funds and does not finalize project scope; it authorizes the mayor to apply and accept grant funds if awarded. The council did not approve detailed design at the Jan. 13 pre-meeting; staff indicated design-level documents would follow in subsequent presentations.

Next steps: staff will complete the DOT application and provide detailed design and cost information to the council as the grant process advances.