By Emma Loura/Manhattan Mercury
The Riley County commission on Monday unanimously approved a letter of support for a federal grant to help pay for trails project.
The Flint Hills Regional Council and the Flint Hills Metropolitan Planning Organization are partnering to apply for the 2024 Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program, a grant from the Federal Highway Administration and the U.S. Department of Transportation.
The grant will cover two different projects. The first is the planning and design to connect Manhattan’s trail network on Casement Road, Marlatt Avenue, and US Highway 24 up to Tuttle Creek State Park, a two-mile stretch. There also will be some repairs to Riley Avenue. Both Manhattan and Ogden have a piece of Riley County’s side of the project. Pottawatomie and Geary Counties also are involved.
“People are interested in trails and they want to see connections,” said Flint Hills MPO member Jared Tremblay. “This is an ideal connection.”
Tremblay also said there will be a touch of urban connection to the trails.
“This is a USDOT grant,” he said. “This is our first federal grant so what we’re requesting is a letter of support.”
No local match of finances would be needed if this grant is approved as the state of Kansas will provide matching funds.
Tremblay said finding a grant for the planning and design phase has been a challenge.
