Lincoln County approves application for phase one of Eureka multi-use trail grant

Lincoln County commissioners on April 9 approved a resolution authorizing submission of a Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) Transportation Alternatives grant for phase one of a proposed multi-use trail along U.S. Highway 93 in northern Eureka.

Planning staff told the board the full corridor design measures about 6,290 feet and would connect Lincoln County Schools, the county fairgrounds and the Eureka track to existing trail segments, but the total corridor estimate came in at roughly $2.33 million. To make the project fit MDT’s current grant limits, staff and the county engineer proposed splitting the work into two phases. Phase one would concentrate on sidewalks and curb-and-gutter between 11th Street and Vision Loop, reducing the initial total to an amount that would keep the MDT award under the $1.5 million maximum. Staff recorded a phase-one total and a local match figure into the record during the meeting.

Commissioners approved Resolution 2025-13 specifically to pursue phase one and directed staff to identify a funding mechanism for the required local match. During the motion, a commissioner moved to use Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) funds as the county’s local match; the motion was included in the record and the resolution received affirmative votes.

Why it matters: county planners said the project addresses an existing safety gap for pedestrians and bicyclists along US 93 between 11th Street and Montana Highway 37, where schoolchildren and fairground users now walk along an eight-foot shoulder. Because MDT capped the maximum award at $1.5 million, breaking the corridor into phases reduces short-term local exposure while allowing the county to seek additional funding for later phases.

What planners told commissioners: county staff reviewed changes MDT requested after an earlier unsuccessful 2023 application (more curb, gutter and sidewalk in the urban section), prepared two phase options and recommended applying for phase one now and reapplying for phase two in the 2027 cycle. The staff summary recorded the estimated phase-one local match at approximately $198,000 and noted phase-two would be pursued later if the county chooses.

Next steps: the board authorized submission of the grant application with Evson Engineering and Consulting Inc. (county rep) named in the resolution as the applicant preparer; if the grant is awarded, county officials recorded the intent to allocate necessary local funds and to enter an agreement to maintain the multi-use trail permanently.

All action on the resolution was taken by voice vote at the meeting; the resolution was entered into the official minutes and will be signed by the chair per MCA 7-5-121 and effective immediately upon adoption under MCA 7-5-123.