The great debate over what road project tops the target list for federal funding in East Grand Forks is still up for debate.
A roadblock may have been put up on plans to tap $860,000 dollars in Subtarget funding to help reconstruct 10th Street Northeast. The Metropolitan Planning Organization last week tabled a request to add the project to the Long Range Transportation plan. The council supported the project over a proposed Bygland Road roundabout.
Mayor Steve Gander admits the city is under a time crunch to submit a project to secure federal funding in 2022. “We are proud of the people on the MPO…you are very strategic on land use and transportation….until you come with a decision we don’t like.”
Council President Mark Olstad says a decision needs to be made sooner rather than later. “I don’t want to waste time on something we get back 2-3 weeks down the road – because we don’t have 2-3 weeks down the road to circle back and have the same conversation.”
The MPO’s Earl Haugen says the action to table was made in order to find out how the 10th Street reconstruction will improve transportation choices in and around the project.
To remedy the ticking clock the city is planning to ask the Minnesota Department of Transportation if they can swap the federal money in 2022 for funding in 2023 or 2024.
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