H4. Res. 6101, SS4A Grant SupportCITY -7r+4l�
KALISPELL
Report To: Doug Russell, City Manager
Development Services
201 1st Avenue East -
Kalispell, Montana 5991
Phone (406) 758-7940
From: Jarod Nygren, Development Services Director
Subject: Resolution of Support for the City submission of the Safe Streets and Roads
for All and Reconnecting Communities (RCP) Planning Grants
Meeting Date: September 6, 2022
BACKGROUND: The City of Kalispell, in cooperation with Flathead County and Montana
Department of Transportation (MDT), is considering the submittal to the U.S. Department of
Transportation Safe Streets for All (SS4A) and Reconnecting Communities (RCP) planning grants
for the Main Street/U.S. 93 corridor. The SS4A program funds regional, local, and Tribal
initiatives through grants to prevent roadway deaths and serious injury. Funds for the SS4A Grant
Program are to be awarded on a competitive basis to support planning, infrastructure, behavioral,
and operational initiatives. Funds for the RCP Program are awarded on a competitive basis for
projects that reconnect communities by removing, retrofitting, or mitigating highways or other
transportation facilities that create barriers to community connectivity, including mobility, access,
or economic development.
The city understands that restoring the character of Main Street is essential to revitalization of
downtown. To understand the importance of Main Street/U.S. 93 corridor, the city has provided
policy recommendations in several of its planning documents, including the Downtown Plan,
Downtown Urban Renewal Plan, Growth Policy Plan -It 2035, and MOVE 2040 Transportation
Plan. Specifically, the MOVE 2040 Transportation Plan recommended detailed corridor -level
analysis to fully understand the viability of improvements to Main Street while meeting current
traffic demands. If awarded, either of the two grant applications would provide the necessary
corridor planning analysis needed to set forth Main Street improvements acceptable to all
stakeholders.
The grant applications are due September 15 and October 13, respectively. Grant award dates have
not been identified at this time.
FISCAL IMPACTS: The grant application will be for $650,000 with a 20% match required
($130,000). The match would come from the City ($80,000) and Montana Department of
Transportation ($50,000). The City of Kalispell has budgeted $70,000 for a Main Street study
within the Downtown Tax Increment Financing funds and $10,000 would be administrative or in -
kind assistance in development of the plan.
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that Council adopt Resolution 6101, approving the
submission of applications to the United States Department of Transportation for safe streets for
all and reconnecting communities grants to fund a corridor study for Main Street/U.S. 93.
ATTACHMENTS: Resolution 6101
RESOLUTION NO. 6101
A RESOLUTION OF APPROVAL FOR THE SUBNHSSION OF APPLICATIONS TO
THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR "SAFE STREETS
FOR ALL" (SS4A) AND "RECONNECTING COMMUNITIES" (RCP) GRANTS TO
FUND A CORRIDOR STUDY FOR MAIN STREET/U.S. 93.
WHEREAS, Main Street/U.S. 93 is an historic north/south highway route that passes through
rural Flathead County carrying vehicular traffic through the center of the City of
Kalispell, the county seat and trade center of Northwest Montana; and
WHEREAS, over time, traffic counts, the population and density of the City of Kalispell and its
environs have grown dramatically with the increase in the National Park tourist
traffic and trade traffic resulting in significant excessive congestion and traffic
impediments in and around the City; and
WHEREAS, the MOVE 2040 Kalispell Area Transportation Plan recommended a detailed
corridor -level analysis to fully understand the viability of improvements to Main
Street while meeting current traffic demands; and
WHEREAS, MDOT, Flathead County, and the City of Kalispell used a collaborative process to
develop the MOVE 2040 Kalispell Area Transportation Plan, with focused
outreach efforts to engage the public, key stakeholders, and resource agencies; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of Transportation set aside $5 billion in discretionary grants
through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill for the Safe Street for All (SS4A) to be
awarded on a competitive basis for projects that will "prevent roadway deaths and
serious injuries"; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of Transportation set aside $1.5 billion in discretionary grants
through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill for the new Reconnecting Communities
Pilot (RCP) to be awarded on a competitive basis for projects that will reconnect
communities by removing, retrofitting, or mitigating highways or other
transportation facilities that create barriers to community connectivity, including
mobility, access, or economic development; and
WHEREAS, the project proposed would provide the necessary corridor planning analysis needed
to set forth Main Street improvements; and
WHEREAS, the City of Kalispell application for the SS4A and RCP grants provides additional
opportunity for partnerships with the State, Flathead County, and the City of
Kalispell; and
WHEREAS, as the project meets all criteria of the SS4A and RCP planning grant programs,
application for such funding should have the support of the City of Kalispell.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
KALISPELL AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The Kalispell City Council approves and fully supports the application of
the City of Kalispell for a SS4A and RCP planning grant funding for a
corridor study of Main Street/U.S. 93.
PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL AND SIGNED BY THE MAYOR OF THE
CITY OF KALISPELL, THIS 6TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2022.
ATTEST:
Aimee Brunckhorst, CMC
City Clerk
Mark Johnson
Mayor