Sandpoint pursuing grant for proposed roundabout

SANDPOINT — Following clearance from council members Wednesday, city staff are pursuing a federal grant to fund improvements at Schweitzer Cutoff Road.

A project initially proposed in 2001, city staff members hope to finally get the street restoration off the ground with a TIGER grant, or Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery. City officials authorized staff to pursue the grant until they receive a definitive answer from the federal government. They also removed impact fee support from proposed roundabouts at Cedar and Boyer and Pine and Division, making the Schweitzer Cutoff Road project top priority.

The project proposes to introduce several improvements to the key street connecting Sandpoint, Ponderay, the Bonner County Fairgrounds, Schweitzer Mountain Resort and more. Chief among them is a traffic-controlling roundabout designed to minimize congestion at the intersection with U.S. 95. Other improvements include sidewalks, a detached pathway and ADA access for pedestrians, trees and landscaping, reduced maintenance costs, street lighting and a leveling of the road grade for ease of travel.  

Project planners have divided the project into two phases. The first phase includes right-of-way acquisition, environmental evaluation, conceptualization, engineering and the establishment of improvements west of the proposed roundabout, including a detached pathway, bike lines, sidewalks, ADA ramps, crosswalks, road widening, storm drainage improvements, landscaping and lighting. The total cost is $1.7 million funded through STP-funds and a 7.3-percent local match, according to Public Works Director Kody Van Dyk.

The second phase includes engineering to final design, the construction of the roundabout and a new bridge over Sand Creek and improvements east of the roundabout to match those established in phase one. This round of work will cost $4.2 million, and the hope is to use TIGER grant funds to get the project off the ground. However, the amount to be requested from TIGER grant funds is still undecided, especially since there is no local match requirement.      

According to representatives of contractor J-U-B Engineers, the project is a strong contender for a TIGER grant. For one thing, it’s “shovel-ready,” having gone through the years of certification processes required for the transportation project.

The project also meets the required cost-to-benefit ratio, they said. Part of the application process involves monetizing potential improvements from the project to ensure they outweigh its cost. Due to environmental improvements, increased property values, lower emissions, improved safety and more, engineers calculated $18 million in benefits versus the $4.2 million cost.

Finally, project planners have secured letter of support from several local organizations, businesses and institutions, including Schweitzer Mountain Resort, the Local Highway Technical Assistance Council, Bonner County commissioners, the city of Kootenai and Sandpoint police and fire departments.

The decision followed a brief public comment opportunity, during which attendees proposed other transportation projects to highlight. Attorney James Diehl said he represented local manufacturing businesses in not supporting the Schweitzer Cutoff Road project, preferring instead to see a project that addresses railroad gridlock. Other attendees hoped to eventually see a roundabout at Cedar and Boyer, even if the Schweitzer Cutoff project is emphasized.