Resolution 5876 - Support for MDOT BUILD Grant ApplicationRESOLUTION NO.5876
A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF AN APPLICATION BY THE MONTANA
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR A UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT
OF TRANSPORTATION "BETTER UTILIZING INVESTMENTS TO LEVERAGE
DEVELOPMENT" (BUILD) GRANT TO FUND THE COMPLETION OF THE
SOUTHERN HALF OF THE U.S. 93 ALTERNATE ROUTE.
WHEREAS, U.S. Highway 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 has grown dramatically with the increase in the National Park tourist
traffic and trade traffic which has resulted in significant undue congestion and
traffic impediments in and around the City; and
WHEREAS, a four lane alternate bypass route for U.S. Highway 93 around the west side of the
City of Kalispell was considered and approved in a 1994 Final Environmental
Impact Study as part of the regional improvements to the highway; and
WHEREAS, in 2010 two lanes of the southern half of the alternate route, from Highway 93
South to Foys Lake Road, were completed with Federal Stimulus funding; and
WHEREAS, thereafter, recognizing that the alternate route was ineffective until it was
completed, the Montana Department of Transportation [MDOT] acquired all of
the necessary right-of-way to construct a 4-lane bypass route within the planned
area of the 1994 EIS and constructed four lanes from Foys Lake Road to U.S.
Highway 93 North at the intersection of Reserve Street; and
WHEREAS, the U.S Department of Transportation has set aside $1.5 billion in discretionary
grants through the new Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development
(BUILD) transportation grant program to be awarded on a competitive basis for
projects that will have a "significant local or regional impact"; and
WHEREAS, the MDOT is making application for funds through the BUILD grant program to
complete the southern half of the U.S. Highway 93 Alternate Route; and
WHEREAS, the project proposed by MDOT would remove the roundabouts and complete the
four lanes on the southern half of the route to be served by full interchanges, with
overpasses and four access ramps, from Foys Lake Road to the intersection with
U.S. Highway 93 south of Kalispell; and
WHEREAS, the proposed project will have significant local and regional impact as it will
improve the current traffic congestion points along the southern end of the bypass,
provide additional safety and quality of life improvements for the transportation
corridor by alleviating through traffic from local streets and further the intent to
establish downtown initiatives focused on localized traffic; and
WHEREAS, support for the MDOT application for the BUILD grant 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 BUILD grant program, 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 I. The City of Kalispell fully supports the application of the Montana
Department of Transportation for a BUILD funding grant to complete the
southern half of the U.S. Highway 93 Alternate Route.
PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL AND SIGNED BY THE MAYOR OF THE
CITY OF KALISPELL, THIS 4TH DAY OF JUNE, 2018.
ATTEST:
Ai ee Brunckhorst, CMC
City Clerk
Mark Jo son
Mayor f