Cole County backs Jefferson City BUILD grant for High Street Viaduct and Riverfront Connector
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Summary
Cole County commissioners voted to sign a resolution supporting Jefferson City's federal BUILD grant application seeking up to $25 million for a bundled High Street Viaduct replacement and a Riverfront Connector bridge; presenters said the project may qualify for 100% federal funding because the location is in a qualified census tract.
Cole County commissioners on Feb. 10 approved a resolution supporting Jefferson City's application for a federal BUILD grant to replace the High Street Viaduct and to construct a Riverfront Connector bridge linking downtown to Deborah Cooper Park.
A presenter (Speaker 3) described a bundled application that pairs the High Street Viaduct replacement (two structures) with a Riverfront Connector pedestrian bridge from the River Market/MSP area to Deborah Cooper Park. Presenters said bundling the projects improves the application's merit criteria and private development potential, creating downtown connectivity and multimodal access for pedestrians and state-office commuters.
Speaker 3 said the BUILD program funding is "up to $25,000,000" and noted that, because the project area is in a qualified census tract, the application could be eligible for full (100%) federal funding. Estimated costs presented included approximately $16.9 million for the viaduct and about $7.5 million for the Riverfront Connector, with an additional $2 million to $3 million in local sales-tax contingency for cost overruns.
Presenters reported letters of support from the governor's office and coordination with state legislators; they also cited a bill moving through the legislature that would transfer required properties to the city to accommodate the right-of-way footprint. Commissioners asked about lost parking spaces (estimates ranged from about 32 to 40) and whether the roundabout design would accommodate emergency vehicles; presenters said designs would be sized for fire engines and buses.
Speaker 4 moved that the commission sign a resolution supporting Jefferson City's BUILD grant application; Speaker 1 seconded. The commission recorded ayes by voice and approved the resolution.
Next step: Jefferson City will submit the BUILD grant application by the Feb. 24 deadline; award notifications were described by presenters as likely in June but practically could be delayed until September.