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Board to consider applying for $9.9 million BUILD grant for 'Hot Springs Safe and Connected'

City of Hot Springs Board of Directors · February 11, 2026

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Summary

Assistant City Engineer Mike Hill told the board the city will seek up to $9,896,000 from USDOT BUILD for a multimodal 'Hot Springs Safe and Connected' initiative that would fund trailheads, connector and intersection safety improvements; as a rural applicant the city is not required to provide a local match and approval would authorize only the application filing.

Assistant City Engineer Mike Hill presented R26‑28 at the agenda meeting, asking the board to authorize submitting a BUILD discretionary grant application to the U.S. Department of Transportation for a comprehensive program called "Hot Springs Safe and Connected." The requested amount is $9,896,000.

Hill said the program bundles multiple coordinated transportation improvements — including construction of a Pullman Trailhead to connect to National Park trails, expanded connections along the Stokes Trail, and safety and operations improvements at the Higdon Ferry Road and Central Avenue intersection near Oak Lawn Racing Casino Resort — with goals of improving safety, mobility, regional linkage, economic competitiveness and equitable access across the city. He said the application has been refined to align with USDOT BUILD priorities and that, as a rural applicant, the city is not required to provide a local match; approval authorizes only application submittal and does not obligate local funds.

Director Holiday asked about the award timeline; Hill estimated the city would know "late this summer" but said he would confirm the exact schedule. The board will be asked to approve R26‑28 at its Feb. 17 business meeting.

If approved for submittal, the BUILD application would make these projects eligible for federal discretionary funding but would still require subsequent design, environmental review and contracting approvals before construction.