The town hopes to be able to improve walkways around town with grant funds.
The town board directed Town Administrator Andrea Phillips on July 23 to pursue a variety of grants to install a pedestrian crossing at U.S. 160 and Beech Street and trails.
A pedestrian crossing is estimated to cost $93,459, and if the town received the grant, it would be required to cover 20 percent of the cost - an estimated $18,692.
This crossing would connect the north and south sides of town, and it would be in line with school and make it safer for students to walk to school, Phillips said at the meeting. It would also provide an alternative to jaywalking across the highway, which has been an ongoing concern.
"I think it has a pretty good chance of being funded," Phillips said.
The board directed the administrator to apply for the Colorado Department of Transportation grant through the agency's Transportation Alternatives Program. The program funds projects that enhance safety and increase bicycling or walking activity.
The town has pursued a Safe Routes to School grant for the crossing, but didn't receive it.
The board also unanimously approved pursuing a grant to improve the trails in Cottonwood Park. The total cost of the needed improvements in the park are estimated to cost $55,700. The town is requesting the Great Outdoors Colorado grant to cover $37,216 and Trout Unlimited to cover $6,540 including some professional services. The town would pay $10,000 toward the improvements.
The town hopes to install new signage, benches and bear-safe containers, remove hazardous trees, resurface the trail, and install a trail that would bisect the park.
The board also pledged to financially support a Trails to Mesa Verde planning project for a 17-mile trail that would unite Mancos, Mesa Verde National Park, Cortez and Phil's World. Mancos' share of the planning study would be $20,000.
The Colorado Department of Transportation grant is being pursued by a consortium of other local governments including the Bureau of Land Management, Cortez and Montezuma County.
The town board unanimously approved resolutions to apply for all of these grants with little discussion.
mshinn@cortezjournal.com
