The Green River City Council approved a grant application to help improve upgrades compliant to Americans with Disabilities Act standards in front of Lincoln Middle School and Monroe Elementary School.
The grant, formally known as a Transportation Alternatives Program Grant, is provided by the Wyoming Department of Transportation. In total, the city seeks $244,895.80 and, if selected, will provide $25,737.20 in matching funds – an amount representing 9.5% of the total project amount.
According to Ryan Rust, the city’s grants and government affairs administrator, the grant the city is applying for is similar to a submission that was turned down last year. Overall, he said the city has had success in bringing funding from the program to Green River. One of the differences from last year’s grant application is the scope of the project being reduced.
“There’s a little bit less money available, little bit more competition,” he said.
Specifically, the proposal would see the creation of curb ramps on sections of Monroe Avenue and in front of the elementary school. Additional curb ramps would link the school to other ADA-compliant curb ramps nearby, while consolidating pedestrian traffic away from the mid-block crossing and bus loop at LMS. According to Council documents, the improvements would not only create ADA-compliant paths, but would also link schools with neighborhoods and business areas. The pathways currently limit the access of those with disabilities to nearby public facilities. Others that would be helped include bicyclists, children and elderly residents.
Councilman Ron Williams said he is in favor of the application and project it would fund, but was curious if similar grants have been sought for Flaming Gorge Way and other major streets.
“We have a pretty bad situation between the Red Feather, all the way up to the auto body shop,” he said.
Rust said Flaming Gorge Way was the focus of a previous grant application that was not awarded. In discussions with WYDOT representatives, Rust said it became clear that WYDOT would likely not award the project because that project proposal was valued at more than $1 million. However, Rust said the need for ADA improvements along Flaming Gorge Way is known.
“It comes down to the amount of available funding and the cost of the project,” Rust said.
The Council approved the grant application unanimously.
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