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MPO reports FY2026 federal funds obligated; South 9th Street to be rebuilt with bridge raised
Summary
The MPO Policy Board said it has completed obligations for its FY2026 federal funds, reallocating money to planning and construction projects including a major reconstruction of South 9th Street that will add turn lanes, a trail and a raised bridge.
The MPO Policy Board for the Area Plan Commission of Tippecanoe County reported April 9 that staff have submitted obligation letters and appear to have finalized the MPO's federal funding commitments for fiscal year 2026. "On March 12th the Federal Highway Administration did approve our efforts," staff member Doug told the board, describing recent approvals and INDOT coordination.
Why it matters: Finalizing obligation letters is required for projects to receive federal dollars and move into contract and construction phases. Staff said the MPO must complete federal obligations by April 23 and that step was completed on the MPO's side before noon on April 9.
What was reported: Doug walked the board through several project-level obligations. Right-of-way and parcel-purchase funds for the Soldiers Home Road project have been obligated. The MPO also reallocated a portion of federal funds to planning (for a northern corridor study and extension); the board received and signed a contract update April 2 and is awaiting INDOT's signature. Doug said South 9th Street funding was obligated but initially missed INDOT's published report and will appear on next month's listing.
Emergency vehicle preemption: A construction letting for an emergency vehicle preemption system on the West Lafayette side drew three bids; the low bid came in above the engineer's estimate at $962,054. "We worked with INDOT and the two cities and processed a TIP modification to move these federal funds to the project," Doug said, and the MPO submitted the official obligation letter.
Project-level detail: Board member Mike Gibson described the South 9th Street work as a multi-phase reconstruction that will convert a rural two-lane cross section to an urban design with two travel lanes, a center left-turn lane, a west-side trail, intersection improvements (a roundabout at a key location), sewer upgrades and a bridge replacement that will be raised about four feet. Gibson said the federally funded segment is phase one, with an overall program of widening and trail work continuing into the next phase; staff estimated substantial completion around 2027-28 depending on weather and utility relocation.
Next steps: Staff said INDOT must finalize contract signatures where required and that the MPO will monitor the letting reports and provide follow-up answers about specific start dates when district offices respond. The INDOT representative on the call said they would investigate outstanding scheduling questions and follow up with the board.
The board took no additional votes on project approvals at the meeting; the items discussed were operational updates and fund-obligation confirmations.
