Kalispell is going forward with their application for the Safe Streets and Roads for All grant. Up for consideration, a $25-million grant to make major safety improvements in our downtown. The grant, if approved, will require a 20% match from the City’s TIF funds.
This opportunity came up last year and the Council voted 5-4 to pass on it, mainly because the so-called “road diet” reducing Main Street to 2-lanes with a center-turn lane. With the Hwy 93 Bypass incomplete, it was thought to be too big a delay for motorists transiting our downtown.
This time, the plan includes 2-round-abouts–one at Main & 11th Streets–near the South Campus Building and another at South Main & 13th Streets…at that 3-way intersection with Airport Road.
City Staff and Council Members are planning trips to Washington, DC to lobby for our application–one of the cities vying for 70-such grants.
