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Grant Application <br /> If the Council wishes to pursue grant funding, staff recommends that the City apply for funding <br /> opportunities within the "Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities" category of the Regional <br /> Solicitation Program. Three funding areas are available within this category. <br /> 1. Multiuse Trail and Bicycle Facility Projects: A project that benefits pedestrians and <br /> bicyclists, connecting people to destinations. <br /> 2. Pedestrian Facilities (Sidewalks, Streetscaping and ADA): A project that primarily <br /> benefits pedestrians as opposed to multiple types of non-motorized uses. <br /> 3. Safe Routes to School (Infrastructure Projects): An infrastructure project that is within a <br /> two-mile radius and directly benefitting a primary, middle, or high school site. <br /> After discussing the three funding areas above with staff from the Metropolitan Council and <br /> Transportation Advisory Board, City staff recommends applying within the subcategory of <br /> Multiuse Trails and Bicycle Facilities which will give us the best chance for receiving the <br /> grant. The Metropolitan Council indicated that the Safe Route to School program's federal award <br /> is capped at $1 million and proposed projects must be included within the school's Safe Route to <br /> School Plan to qualify. <br /> Discussion <br /> The Regional Solicitation Grant program deadline is on May 15, 2020 and the awards will be <br /> announced later this year in the fall, barring the timeline is not pushed back as a result of the <br /> COVID-19 pandemic. <br /> The Metropolitan Council recognizes that there are many road improvement needs and the <br /> Transportation Advisory Board has made previous decisions to prioritize funding on roads that <br /> serve a regional purpose. The eligible roadway types are non-principal arterial highway and A- <br /> Minor roads. Even with these limits, Transportation Advisory Board is only able to typically <br /> fund half of the projects submitted. <br /> Project sponsors are able to construct projects early via "Advance Construction". This would <br /> allow the City to have their project programmed in the Transportation Improvement Program in <br /> 2024 and construct with local funds early. The federal funds would be reimbursed in 2024, or <br /> earlier if there are additional federal funds available. In the application, the Metropolitan Council <br /> asks which program year you prefer for your project, 2024 or 2025. They follow it with a <br /> request to indicate whether you would be able to start your project early. If the Metropolitan <br /> Council receives additional federal funds in an earlier year, the project funding could be <br /> programmed earlier. <br /> Page 3 of 4 <br />