Design Center asks City to sponsor grant application
David Little West Central Tribune
Published Wednesday, July 12, 2006

WILLMAR — The City of Willmar has been asked to be host sponsor of a grant application that could lead to funding for a pedestrian bridge over the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad yard.

The Overland Pedestrian Bridge is a concept being proposed by the Willmar Design Center to connect downtown Willmar to Foot Lake and to area hiking and biking trails.

Besides connecting the downtown to the lake and recreation trails, the bridge would provide a safe crossing for children on bicycles, and would provide a viewing platform in the middle that could be used to describe Willmar’s historical connection to the railroad.

The city would be required to provide a 20 percent match and agree to operate and maintain the bridge.

The request for city sponsorship of the grant application was made by Design Center project coordinator Beverly Dougherty to the City Council’s Public Works/Safety Committee Tuesday evening.

Committee chairman Doug Reese suggested the committee receive the request as information because Dougherty did not have a construction cost estimate and the size of the city’s match isn’t known yet.

Also, Reese suggested the committee wait until the railroad says if it will allow the bridge to be constructed on its property or agree to participate in the cost.

“We have not yet been able to meet with the railroad,’’ said Dougherty. “We’ve set up two appointments and they’ve been canceled at the last minute. Of course, they will have to be a part of this proposal that is due Oct. 6.’’

She said a Design Center committee is working with Donn Winckler of the Mid-Minnesota Development Commission in Willmar on the Southwest Minnesota Area Transportation Partnership grant application.

Dougherty said Winckler feels Willmar has a very strong case in all the categories to be a successful grant applicant because it addresses safety, among other things.

“Several of our committee members have watched kids pass their bikes over cars switching in this rail yard because they don’t want to wait for the train to go. Those are things that drive the railroad nuts, but it’s just a matter of time,’’ said Dougherty.

“It is the second busiest terminal in the state. I think that’s huge,’’ she said. “I know they work slow, but safety is always their number one issue, and we’re hoping that that might bring them to the table to say we can do this over the tracks in a way that they would have some approval over its safety.’’

Reese asked for a dollar amount on Willmar’s 20 percent match.

“We don’t have finished numbers,’’ said Dougherty.

If the application is submitted on time, the city would be notified in September 2007 if it was successful, she said. The target date for construction would be spring 2009, she said.

Dougherty said another attempt will be made this week to meet with the railroad.

“We don’t have the number and we don’t have the OK from the BNSF to go over the tracks,’’ said Reese. “We have to wait until we have the number and I think we have to wait until we know whether or not BNSF is considering participating.’’

The proposed bridge would connect Third Street Southwest to the area known locally as Bums Alley on the north side of the rail yard. Two other locations are also being suggested: one at Sixth Street and another on the First Street bridge.

Although the First Street bridge has sidewalk, it wouldn’t really connect downtown, said Dougherty.