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Local trail group seeks MDT grant to extend Stillwater Legacy Trail; council to consider resolution
Summary
Stillwater Legacy Trails and Interstate Engineering presented an MDT transportation alternatives grant proposal to extend the Quarry Street connection; councilors gave informal support and instructed staff to draft a resolution for formal consideration at the Feb. 3 meeting.
Jill Exner, representing Stillwater Legacy Trails, urged the Columbus City Council to support pursuing a Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) transportation alternatives grant to extend the town's existing trail network and improve school and downtown connections.
Exner said MDT covers a $5,000 grant-writing allotment and that Stillwater Legacy Trails would provide the local match (about 13 percent), noting the group currently has roughly $85,000 available toward the match and related project costs. Lynette Pierce of Interstate Engineering, participating by Zoom, told the council the Quarry Street connection is likely more competitive for the grant than a Highway 306 route because it offers safe routes to schools, downtown connectivity and ties to Heritage Park.
The application window opened Jan. 10 and is due in early April; Pierce said awards should be announced in May and that, if funded, the project delivery schedule in MDT's program would be roughly four to five years from award. Pierce also explained that Interstate Engineering can prepare engineering estimates and administer the grant as part of the $5,000 MDT-supported package.
Councilors asked procedural and jurisdictional questions, including whether a project must be on an MDT state route; Pierce said it does not if the community provides the required match. City attorney Ryan and other councilors recommended drafting a resolution outlining expectations and placing formal action on the Feb. 3 agenda so the council can vote before the application deadline processes that require municipal commitment.
No formal vote occurred at the Jan. meeting; council members expressed no opposition to pursuing the grant and directed staff to prepare a resolution and public-hearing schedule for the next meeting. The city will also coordinate the public hearing required for the grant application and bring formal authorization back to the council for approval.
