SANDPOINT — As its only item of new business at last week’s meeting, the council voted to move forward with a grant application that could allow the city to step into a second phase of improvements on Division Avenue.

The Child Pedestrian Safety  grant could provide up to $250,000 in funding improvements on the eastern side of Division Avenue, between Superior and Pine Streets, with the purpose of providing safer streets for children to walk on.

Following a road safety audit conducted in 2019, the city integrated steps for long-term improvements on Division into its Multi-Modal Transportation Plan, Holly Ellis, city construction manager, said.  The project in its entirety is slated to take place over the next 10 to 20 years and cost around $10 million all together.

“The full build-out would provide planter strips on both sides of Division, a wider multi-use path and a wider sidewalk,” Ellis said. 

While the 2024 CPS grant would fund Phase II, the city was able to complete Phase I of the project with a 2023 CPS grant. During that phase, upgrades were made between north of the highway and Superior Street, including a wider sidewalk on the east side.

The section expected to be tackled next currently has narrow sidewalks, no planters — meaning no storage space for plowed snow, and non-ADA compliant curb ramps. The area is considered an arterial truck road that sees over 6,600 annual daily trips on average. Over 1,600 students attend nearby schools, city officials said.

Phase II would result in a six-foot-wide sidewalk, a five-and-a-half-foot-wide planter strip, ADA-compliant curb ramps, narrower width of existing driveways for shorter pedestrian crossings, and planted street trees. 

The Local Highway Technical Assistance Council will fund over $2 million in various projects, with a maximum award of $250,000 per project. The project must be completed by Dec. 13, 2024. There is no match required, however, the grant only covers construction costs, so survey and design elements must be provided by the city.

Following Ellis’ presentation, the council unanimously voted to move forward with the application.