DETROIT LAKES, Minn. — The West Central Minnesota Area Transportation Partnership is seeking applications for the 2016 Transportation Enhancement Program, which has approximately $600,000 available for eligible projects in Mahnomen, Clay, Becker, Wilkin, Otter Tail, Grant, Douglas, Stevens, Traverse, Pope, Big Stone and Swift counties. Projects require a 20 percent cash match.
A workshop to provide information about eligibility is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 13, from 10 a.m. to noon, at West Central Initiative, 1000 Western Ave., Fergus Falls. For directions, visit www.wcif.org. Representatives also will be available to assist in completing application forms.
Eligible transportation enhancement projects are:
1. Pedestrian and bicycle facilities
2. Pedestrian and bicycle safety and educational activities
3. Acquisition of scenic or historic easements and sites
4. Scenic or historic highway programs, including tourist and welcome centers
5. Landscaping and scenic beautification
6. Historic preservation
7. Rehabilitation and operation of historic transportation buildings, structures or facilities
8. Conversion of abandoned railway corridors to trails
9. Inventory, control, and removal of outdoor advertising
10. Archaeological planning and research
11. Environmental mitigation of runoff pollution and provision of wildlife connectivity
12. Establishment of transportation museums
Projects previously funded include:
• Lake Adley Park Trail in Parkers Prairie (funded 2015)—$185,000
• Geneva Road pedestrian/bike lanes in Alexandria (funded 2015)—$415,000
• Glendalough State Park trail from Battle Lake to Otter Tail Co Hwy 16 (funded 2014) $100,000
• Shared use path bridge over the Red River from Gooseberry Park in Moorhead to Lindenwood Park in Fargo (funded 2014)—$400,000
• Walking trail along Wilkin County Highway 10 (funded 2014)—$125,000
• Battle Lake to Glendalough Interconnection Trail (funded 2013)—$175,000
• Tower Road bridge trail in Fergus Falls (funded 2013)—$425,000
• City of Ottertail bike trail (funded 2012)—$189,750
• Moorhead pedestrian underpass at 20th Street and 40th Avenue (funded 2012)—$310,250
• Villard bike trail to Villard city beach (funded 2012)—$100,000
In addition to the Sept. 13 workshop, applications and grant writing assistance also are available by contacting:
• Wayne Hurley at West Central Initiative, 1-800-735-2239 or wayne@wcif.org, for Clay, Becker, Wilkin, Otter Tail, Grant, Douglas, Stevens, Traverse and Pope counties
• Mathew Dyrdahl at Headwaters Regional Development Commission, 218-444-4732 or mdyrdahl@hrdc.org, for Mahnomen County
• Michelle Bouta at Upper Minnesota Valley Regional Development Commission, 320-289-1981 or michelle.bouta@umvrdc.org, for Big Stone and Swift counties
• Justin Kristan at Fargo-Moorhead Council of Governments, 701-232-3242 or jkristan@fmmetrocog.org, for the Fargo-Moorhead vicinity
Information on the Transportation Enhancements Funds, including a guidebook and fact sheets on the 12 eligible activities, can be found at www.enhancements.org.
For more information on the program, contact Keven Anderson, MnDOT District 4, 218-846-7963, or keven.anderson@state.mn.us.
The deadline for applications is Nov. 11 to local planning agencies and Dec. 9 to MnDOT. All applications must be reviewed and approved by your local planning agency.
