Cost increases push Healy pathway/Antler Ridge projects toward additional grant requests; Denali Commission award reduces local match
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Summary
Community Development Director reported a $2,050,000 increase in pathway project costs and said the borough's local match will rise by $219,203 but will be lowered by a $300,000 Denali Commission award, leaving a projected local match of $530,760 for the TAP-funded Healy separated-pathways project.
The borough’s Community Development Director told the assembly that design is ready on several transportation and recreation projects but rising costs and state staffing vacancies may delay construction and increase local match obligations.
Miss Ford said the Antler Ridge trail plan is about 95% complete and ready for construction, but that statewide cost inflation and a vacancy among DNR engineers (who verify on-site construction for state-delivered grants) could slow bid-to-construction timelines. She said the borough requested additional federal-highway funding last April and is revising cost estimates to avoid issuing a bid it cannot fund.
Ford reported that two TAP-funded Healy pathway projects have seen total project increases of roughly $2,050,000. The borough’s originally planned match of $611,556 will rise by an estimated $219,203; however, a successful $300,000 Denali Commission award will reduce the borough’s projected outlay to $530,760. Ford said the borough remains proactive in pursuing additional rounds of Denali Commission match-gap funding and congressional-directed spending if needed.
She also highlighted large new grant opportunities, including the Rural Health Transformation Program (with a substantial pool of funds administered via Alaska Community Foundation) and seasonal congressional-directed spending requests. Ford urged that projects be made 'shovel-ready'—with preliminary design and environmental compliance—so they are competitive in federal application cycles.
The assembly asked follow-up questions about right-of-way and utility constraints on Suntrana and Cole Street, and Ford said she would follow up on specific corridor issues and continue to report cost and schedule changes to the assembly.
