Laramie council approves TAP grant application to improve Garfield Street footbridge landing

The Laramie City Council voted July 7 to authorize submission of a Transportation Alternatives Program application to the Wyoming Department of Transportation seeking up to $250,000 for safety and accessibility improvements at the west landing of the Garfield Street footbridge.

Councilor Lockhart moved the resolution and Vice Mayor Richardson seconded; the motion passed 8–0 with one member absent. The funding request, staff said, would cover ADA-compliant curb ramps, truncated domes and about 300 feet of sidewalk from the landing toward Grand Avenue.

Planning staff told council the landing has no existing sidewalk, is prone to silt from runoff and is one of Laramie’s most heavily used nonmotorized connections. “We have been recording approximately 400 trips a day across the bridge,” planning staff said, citing trail-counter data included in the application.

The staff presentation said the grant requires a local match of about 10 percent — roughly $24,000 — and noted AARP has pledged $8,500 toward that match. City staff recommended approval and said the TAP application would also implement recommendations from the Reconnect West Laramie plan.

Councilors asked about schedule and closures. Staff said awards will be announced in October and, if the city receives the grant, the small scope could allow construction next summer; impacts to pedestrian use would be minimized but short closures for concrete curing were possible.

The resolution authorizes the mayor and city clerk to sign the application. Council approved the accompanying budget amendment later in the meeting to appropriate local match dollars.

The council moved next to other agenda items, including votes on university licensing, a major economic-development grant and a new housing infrastructure program.