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<br />It is helpful to have project support from local Legislators, County <br />Commissioners, Met Council representatives and other elected officials. Many <br />grant programs and selected projects, as well as special legislative <br />appropriations, are ultimately approved by elected officials. <br /> <br />Potential Funding Sources <br />Federal Transportion Dollars (TEA 21). TEA 21 dollars are accessible through a <br />competitive section process administered by the Transportation Advisory Board (TAB) <br />and Metropolitan Council. The last solicitation was in Fall 2001. The next is <br />anticipated in Fall 2003. TEA 21 is split into a number of different funding catagories. <br />This entire project would most likely fall under the Surface Transportation Program <br />(STP), Highway Safety Funds (HES). The trail and streetscape elements could be <br />funded in the Enhancements Program (EN). <br /> <br />Municipal and County State Aid. These dollars, collected primarily from gas tax <br />revenues, are distributed to the County and City to be used to maintain the collector and <br />arterial roadway system. The majority of improvements proposed on HWY 10 could be <br />funded through State Aid. The question is: Does the County and/or City have State Aid <br />dollars available? Ramsey County has more roadway needs than available funding. To <br />help stretch their available resources, the County has developed a cost participation <br />policy that requires local communities to fund significant portions of County roadway <br />projects. The most common local participation items includes the acqusition of right-of- <br />way, pathway construction, landscaping and a portion of the cost of paved shoulders and <br />curb and gutter. The City is allowed to use their State Aid money to fund the local share <br />of County roadway projects. State Aid rules allow communities to spend 10% of their <br />annual construction allocation on landscaping and streetscape improvements. <br /> <br />Assessments. State law allows cities to levy assessments against benefiting properties <br />for projects like the one proposed in the City of Mounds View. The test for such <br />assessments is that the assessment must not exceed the benefit to the assessed property – <br />usually measured by an increase in market value. The proposed improvements will <br />improve the overall safety and aethetics in the project area an will be a benefit to <br />adjoining properties. Any assessments should be consistant with past City practice and <br />policy. <br /> <br />Other Grant Programs. Many State Agencies have various grant programs that award <br />smaller amounts, less than $100,000, to project components. Typically, these grant <br />programs solicit projects annually. <br />• DNR Trails ($50,000 Range) – The DNR has a number of smaller grant programs <br />(Outdoor Recreation Grant, Local Trails Connections Grant, Regional Trial Grant) for <br />different types of pathways. <br />• Metropolitan Council ($50,000 - $1,000,000 Range) – Livable Communities <br />Demonstration Account for projects that implement Smart Growth principles, <br />MetroEnvironment Partnership Grant Program to fund stormwater improvement <br />projects.