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Town council revises application for federal funding for completing Town-to-Lakes Trail

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On Jan. 21, the Pagosa Springs Town Council approved a resolution to revise an application for federal funding that would support the completion of the Town-to-Lakes Trail and local road network connectivity.

The town is seeking a Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).

Previously, on Nov. 21, 2024, the council approved a resolution for $17 million worth of funding, but an agenda document on the matter states that due to “continued material price escalations and [after] discussions with a state funded grant writing consultant,” staff is now asking for “an increase in the contingency line item from 20% to 30%.”

At the meeting, Projects Manager David Hilborn explained that, since the town originally applied for the grant, “updates on material costs” has led town staff to “improve our application” and increase the amount of funding it is asking for. 

This revision would increase the funding to $20.5 million, which is described as “a conservative number that is based on staff and consultant cost estimations that include a 30% contingency to account for inflation and unanticipated expenditures,” the document states. 

 Hilborn explained that 93 percent of the trail project is located within 2020 Census Tract 9743, identified as a rural and historically disadvantaged community, which allows the town the opportunity to apply for “no match” funding from the DOT.

“That would mean that the town would not be liable or obligated for any of the costs for the project up to whatever the funds that are awarded,” he said. 

At the Nov. 21, 2024, meeting, Development Director James Dickhoff explained that the town had previously applied — unsuccessfully — for $16 million in funding, but added that “we were invited to submit another application” in this round. 

Dickhoff explained that town staff had met “with RAISE staff a couple times, and they indicated that we actually scored fairly well, but it’s just a very competitive national federal grant.” 

He explained that RAISE received about 1,100 applications in the last round, “and they only awarded 135 applications.”

Gaining written support from the property owners along the proposed trail would also strengthen the town’s chances this time around, he added. 

“We’ll keep applying for these opportunities. They are very competitive, but we feel like we have a very good project,” he said. 

The document describes the planned commuter trail as “the final link that would achieve comprehensive nonmotorized connectivity between existing infrastructure in both uptown and downtown Pagosa Springs.” 

The scope of work outlined in the application encompasses several key components:

• Design and construction of a 12-foot-wide concrete commuter trail extending from Great West Avenue to Harman Park Drive.

• Design and construction of a connecting road and adjacent trail from Harman Park Drive to Cornerstone Drive.

• Design and construction of a 12-foot-wide concrete commuter trail extending from Pinon Causeway to South Pagosa Boulevard, including a trail connection to the existing hospital trail.

• Design and construction of a trail between the hospital and Village Drive, providing safe routes to the existing crosswalk at U.S. 160 and Pagosa Boulevard.

“If awarded, the funding obligation deadline will be September 30, 2030, and all funds must be expended by September 30, 2035,” the document states. 

“This grant opportunity is exceptionally rare … the Town will not be required to allocate any funds, provided that the project expenses do not surpass the amount awarded by the U.S. Department of Transportation,” the document states.

Commending town staff for its work on the application and the trail project, council member Mat deGraaf said, “Keep on it.” 

“This is a wonderful opportunity, and should that land in our lap that would be incredible, so just keep pushing on it,” deGraaf said. 

Mayor Shari Pierce added, “I know this is something that the community really, really wants, but when it comes to some of the other things that we need to do, this is the one that gets pushed to the back, so if we could get a grant to promote it, that’s the way to go, I think.”

The motion to revise the application for the RAISE grant for the completion of the Town-to-Lakes Trail was passed unanimously by the council.

derek@pagosasun.com