Central Montana Times

City of Great Falls receives $1,341,538.17 Fuel Tax Allocation from the BaRSAA Program

The City of Great Falls was awarded a fuel tax allocation of $1,341,538.17 from the Bridge and Road Safety and Accountability Act (BaRSAA) Program. Allocations are calculated based on the statutory formula that is based on the City's certified road mileage over the past year and the 2021 US Census Bureau's population estimates.

Beginning March 1, 2023, the City of Great Falls may request the distribution of the 2023 BaRSAA allocation from the Montana Department of Transportation. For each $20 requested, the City is required to match funds with at least $1 of the City's budgeted funds. For this year's funds, the Public Works Department is proposing the Lower N Side Water Main/Street Reconstruction Phase 2 project at an estimated cost of $1,440,000.

To date (2018-2022), the City has received $4,506,511 in BaRSAA funds for use in the following projects:

•    Encino Drive Grande Vista 2 Street Repairs Phase 1 (2018)

o    Completed 8-31-2019 | Final cost $486,787

•    Lower Northside Water Main Replacement/Street Reconstruction (2019)

o    Completed 7-1-2021 |Final Cost $1,499,391

•    Encino Drive Grande Vista 2 Street Repairs Phase 2 (2020)

o    Completed 6-30-2021 | Final Cost $690,651

•    Upper River Road Mill and Overlay (2020)

o    Completed 8-31-2021 | Final Cost $520,995

o    Cooperative effort between City and County

•    SW Side Street Reconstruction (2021)

o    Under Construction: The project is currently in winter shutdown and scheduled to restart in April 2023. | Est. Cost $1,028,930

•    East Fiesta Street Reconstruction (2022)

o    Project is currently in the design phase. | Est. Cost $987,343

•    Giant Springs Road Slide Repair (2022)  

o    Project is currently in geotechnical investigation stage. | Est. Budget $800,000

The BaRSAA funding was created by the Montana Legislature in 2017. Each fiscal year, 35% or $9.8 million of the proceeds (whichever is greater) is allocated to the Montana Department of Transportation, and the remainder is allocated to local governments for the construction, reconstruction, maintenance, and repair of rural roads, city or town streets and alleys, or bridges.

"Taking advantage of the Bridge and Road Safety and Accountability Act allocation has allowed the City to fund street improvements in a timely and cost-effective way," stated City Manager Greg Doyon. "The infusion of these funds into the Public Works budget created a revenue stream that enabled the completion of projects that may not have been otherwise funded or would have been delayed for years." Due to these funds, the City hasn't increased the Street Assessment since 2016.

Original source can be found here.