Deschutes County authorizes submission of federal grants for forest roads and local safety projects

The Deschutes County Board of Commissioners on May 27 authorized the county road department to submit applications for the Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP) and the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant programs.

Cody Smith, county engineer and assistant road department director, told the board the county is preparing six FLAP proposals, all serving roads within or adjacent to the Deschutes National Forest. He described projects ranging from a 13‑mile pavement rehabilitation of River Summit Drive (the 45 Road) — a 3‑inch grind and inlay with improved roadside signage estimated at about $8 million — to a Burgess Road bridge replacement estimated at $4 million. Smith also described a preliminary engineering and NEPA phase for Cascade Lakes Highway between Mount Bachelor and Elk Lake, which he said would seek about $2.5 million for environmental clearance and initial engineering as part of a larger, phased corridor project Smith said could total roughly $40 million.

Smith said the FLAP program can cover 100% of project delivery costs when projects are delivered by the federal Western Federal Lands/Highway Division, and he cautioned the county’s cost estimates are preliminary. "These cost estimates are rough because we're still dialing them in," Smith said.

On the SS4A application, Smith said the county submitted an application (the deadline was May 26) that drew from the county’s Transportation Safety Action Plan and proposed low‑cost countermeasures at 14 high‑injury‑network sites. He told the board the combined cost for those 14 local safety projects is about $5.9 million and that implementation projects are eligible for 80% federal funding; he confirmed the federal share on the application equates to roughly $4.7 million with a county match of about $1.2 million.

Board members asked technical questions about pavement depth and jurisdiction. Smith clarified that a "3‑inch grind and inlay" replaces the wearing course and does not remove pavement to base rock, and that the stretches described extend from the state highway into county‑maintained segments in the forest or to county campgrounds.

With those presentations complete, a motion to authorize the road department to submit FLAP and SS4A applications was moved, seconded and approved by the two commissioners present.

What happens next

If awarded, FLAP projects would generally be delivered by the federal Western Federal Lands/Highway Division and could be fully federally funded; SS4A awards would fund construction at an 80% federal share with a local match. The county will bring project details and any required local commitments back to the board for acceptance and implementation as those applications advance.