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<br />CASE # 4 <br /> <br />APPROVE RESOLUTION TO APPLY FOR FUNDS TO CONSTRUCT THE <br />MISSISSIPPI RIVER TRAIL - KINGS ISLAND TO RIVERDALE PARK <br />By: Mark Riverblood, Parks Supervisor <br /> <br />Background: <br /> <br />The Mississippi River Trail has been identified as a high priority for the community for many <br />years, and will. have important connectivity and benefits. The City of Anoka also desires trail <br />linkage with the city of Ramsey via the King's Island route along the river. For these reasons, <br />Anoka and Ramsey submitted an application for American Recovery and Reinvestment Act <br />(ARRA) monies earlier this spring. <br /> <br />Observations: <br /> <br />While the application for ARRA funding ranked high, Ramsey's submittal fell just short of <br />receiving funding. However, the preparation of the grant application and research was thought to <br />be useful for revising the application for the Federal Transportation Enhancements (TE) call for <br />proposals due June 15th, 2009. The TE monies are "transportation-related activities designed to <br />strengthen the cultural, aesthetic and environmental aspects of the nation's intermodal <br />transportation system. The TE program provides for the implementation of non-traditional <br />transportation projects." The TE monies are recommended for funding by Metropolitan <br />Council's Transportation Advisory Board (TAB). <br /> <br />The ARRA program had 7.5 million available for bicyclist and pedestrian-type projects. Through <br />this TE solicitation, approximately 17 million is anticipated to be programmed to projects for <br />2011 and 2012 construction, within the seven-county region. <br /> <br />Attached with this case is the previous ARRA application as a general example of what the TE <br />proposal would fund (should Council choose to make the application). Staff is presently in the <br />process of discussing this project with the city of Anoka relative to any amendments to what was <br />previously proposed. <br /> <br />Funding Source: <br /> <br />No funding is required at this time. Should the city be successful in receiving an award, the <br />project will return to both Anoka, and Ramsey's City Councils for approval. However, the <br />application criterion does require a 20% project match. This is anticipated to be primarily <br />engineering and administrative time by Anoka and Ramsey staff, similar to the budget included <br />with the ARRA application. The attached resolution provides for application approval and <br />indicates to the TAB that Ramsey is committed to providing the required match <br />