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Council records poll vote to accept MDOT solution for bridging RCN funds toward Berlin Bikeway
Summary
Council confirmed a poll vote to accept MDOT's proposed repurposing of an earmark (about $643,000) and to use local budgeted match funds and county rails-and-trails monies to keep the RCN Berlin Bikeway project moving; poll vote recorded 4 in favor, 1 abstention/absent.
The council reviewed a poll vote taken between meetings to maintain momentum on the town's Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods (RCN) project, the Berlin Bikeway. Staff said MDOT proposed a funding approach using a reprogrammed earmark of approximately $643,000 to replace rescinded federal RCN funds and the council agreed to provide the local match from a combination of Berlin budgeted funds and county rails-and-trails money.
Staff outlined that Berlin had previously been awarded $1.2 million from the US Department of Transportation under RCN phase 1, with $250,000 already obligated; the poll vote authorized staff to accept the MDOT arrangement and use $100,000 of Berlin's budgeted match plus available county rails-and-trails funds to meet the required 20 percent local match. A staff member emphasized that the federal funds are restricted to the federalized project and are not fungible for other uses.
The council recorded the poll vote as four members in favor and one abstention/absence (Vice President Burrell). Staff said they would follow up with updated project diagrams and community outreach materials for residents who requested maps.
Next steps: staff to provide concept maps to interested residents, continue community engagement under RCN phase 1, and coordinate with county partners on matching funds.
