Council authorizes TAP grant applications for Mountain View and 6th Street, shifts Highway 95 underpass to above-ground improvements

The Moscow City Council authorized staff to apply for two Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grants and approved a recommended modification to a long-running Highway 95 underpass project after updated engineering and hydraulic reviews.

Alisa opened the TAP discussion with a history of the program and its focus on non-motorized transportation. City engineer Luke presented the Mountain View Road proposal: a multiuse path on the east side of Mountain View, pedestrian ramps at intersections, a retaining wall where needed to reduce impacts on adjacent properties, shoulder notching to accommodate bike lanes, and multimodal connections to existing paths. Staff said Mountain View is the city’s priority TAP project and that design would occur this calendar year with potential construction in 2028 depending on grant selection.

Luke also described a 6th Street pathway: widening an existing 5-foot sidewalk to a 10-foot multiuse path through an easement, adding a mid-block crossing and a rectangular rapid flashing beacon (RRFB), and extending the path to Triangle Park and 7th Street. The council moved and approved a motion to authorize submittal of two 2026 TAP applications requesting $500,000 each; the motion included a notation that total project cost for Mountain View would not exceed $750,000 and that staff would cover required local match (the Mountain View match was identified as $250,000).

On the Highway 95 underpass, staff reviewed the project history and a recent resurvey that found about 2 feet of additional sediment accumulation in the channel. That change reduced minimum clearances and made the underpass construction infeasible without extensive sediment removal and perpetual maintenance agreements with state and federal agencies. Updated project cost estimates rose from an original roughly $1,000,000 (2020 estimate) to about $1,700,000. Staff recommended modifying the scope to above-ground pedestrian improvements—sidewalk extensions and an enhanced crossing—so the project could proceed within existing funds and avoid a large additional local match. The council voted to authorize staff to modify the project scope and complete design using remaining funds.

Council members emphasized the importance of multimodal connections and coordination with the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) on signal timing and a planned 2028 signal project at the Highway 8 intersection. Staff said work on the revised scope would be completed in time for final review by summer, with construction bidding planned for fall and construction the following year if schedules align.

Council approved the TAP application authorization and the Highway 95 scope modification by roll call votes; staff will proceed with grant applications and design work and will return with further updates if the grant awards or additional approvals are required.