Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Infrastructure Grants topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Middletown council authorizes USDOT BUILD application, commits up to $1.375M local match for 3rd Beach Road and Paradise Ave
Summary
Council passed a resolution to submit a USDOT BUILD grant application for stormwater and roadway improvements on 3rd Beach Road and Paradise Avenue and committed up to $1,375,000 in local funding toward a minimum $5 million project; staff said application work will be mostly in-house and the project would aim to improve safety, stormwater treatment and pedestrian access.
The Town Council voted to authorize submission of a USDOT BUILD grant application to plan and construct stormwater and roadway improvements on 3rd Beach Road and Paradise Avenue and to commit local funding of up to $1,375,000 toward the project.
Town Engineer John described an initial project scope that includes filling open roadside drain swales, piping and providing stormwater treatment, installation of sidewalks or shared bicycle/pedestrian lanes and repaving disturbed roadway areas. The BUILD program requires a minimum project threshold (staff said $5 million) and would cover up to 80% of eligible costs; the towns local match would be roughly 20%.
John said the application work would largely be prepared in-house with assistance from the towns consultants and that staff would coordinate lobbying support from the federal delegation. In response to council questions, staff said previous grants showed an award rate of roughly 4% for competitive rounds and noted the town can decline a grant if it later decides not to proceed. Public commenter Terry Flynn urged caution about taxpayer burden and asked about time and staff costs to prepare the application; staff said in-house hours would be the bulk of the work and outside costs should be minor.
A resolution committing local funding and authorizing the town engineer and planning department to prepare the application passed by voice vote. The resolution states the councils commitment of up to $1,375,000 toward the total project cost.
