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La Crosse council approves application to seek WisDOT TAP funding for King Street Greenway and Ranger Drive protected bike lanes
Summary
The Finance and Personnel Commission approved a resolution to apply for Wisconsin Department of Transportation Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) funding to finish King Street Greenway (3rd–7th) and add protected bike lanes on Ranger Drive; the grant could reimburse up to 80% of eligible costs. Council members raised tree-preservation and engineering questions; the motion passed 3–1–1.
The Finance and Personnel Commission voted to approve a resolution authorizing the city to apply for Wisconsin Department of Transportation Transportation Alternatives Program funds to complete the King Street Greenway and add protected bike lanes and pedestrian improvements on Ranger Drive.
Planner Jenna Dinkle told the commission the resolution allows the city to apply for TAP funding but does not guarantee an award. "As part of this grant application we would be eligible for up to 80% of eligible costs to be reimbursed back to the city," Dinkle said, and said construction and design cost breakdowns are attached to the resolution and the projects are included in the capital improvement plan with match already allotted.
The projects described are the final completion of the King Street Greenway from 3rd to 7th Street and a Ranger Drive retrofit that would include raised bike lanes on both sides, additional sidewalk and rapid flashing beacons intended to improve safety for students traveling to the Boys & Girls Club and Logan High School. Dinkle said both projects are tier‑1 in the city’s bicycle and pedestrian master plan.
Several council members pressed staff about tree impacts on Ranger Drive after a bid tab listed 50 trees to be removed while at least one member reported seeing about a dozen mature trees on the street. The planner deferred some technical questions to engineering and said tree replacement funding is included in project planning. The parks director told the commission that moving mature trees is not feasible and that final design and engineering will determine whether trees can be preserved or must be removed; parks staff will provide recommendations on replacement species and planting locations.
A council member said the absence of engineering staff in the room left key questions unanswered; the commission approved the resolution to apply for the grant with a vote of 3 in favor, 1 opposed and 1 abstention. The application will be submitted to WisDOT; if awarded, construction and final design decisions including tree preservation will follow additional engineering review and public notices.
The vote recorded was on the resolution to apply for TAP funding; project awards and final designs were not decided at the meeting and are subject to WisDOT selection and later city approvals.
