Council to vote on cost-share agreement for road improvements

A public-private partnership valued at $13.3 million is up for a vote at Springfield City Council’s Jan. 13 meeting.

The council measure would match $2.3 million of city funds to an equal commitment from the Erlen Group for three projects to improve connectivity to the Springfield Underground.

The projects are improvements to LeCompte Road from Division Street to the BNSF railroad; an extension of Eastgate Avenue north of Division Street; and a shared-use path along both Eastgate Avenue and LeCompte Road.

No objections to the project were raised at a Dec. 16 public hearing.

The $13.3 million total cost would be paid for through $8.8 million in grants with the remaining amount split between the city and the Erlen Group. The Erlen Group share is designed to include just over $600,000 in cash with a credit-in-kind right-of-way donation topping $1 million and a design cost estimated at $600,000.

Dan Smith, Springfield’s director of Public Works, told council, “These projects will meet both an important public transportation purpose but also open that area up for economic development.”

The road work would widen the roadways to three lanes to accommodate commercial traffic, Smith said.

The shared-use path that is proposed would head north along Eastgate, tie into LeCompte Road and extend north to the railroad tracks as part of the Ozarks Transportation Organization’s regional trail plan.

Smith said the cost-share agreement with Erlen Group replaces one adopted by council in 2022.

“In that period of time, we’ve been able to add scope to the project, and we’ve also received additional grant funds to help pay for additional scope,” he said. “This is a much better project than what we brought forward in 2022.”

The project’s grant funds of $8.8 million include a Governor’s Cost Share Grant of $3.5 million, state of Missouri general funds for LeCompte improvements of $3.4 million, a United States Economic Development Administration grant of $1.5 million, and a Missouri Department of Transportation grant through its Transportation Alternatives Program of $400,000.

Mayor Ken McClure called the plans exciting. “Hopefully we’re moving forward on this,” he said.

Smith said the projects are ready to bid following council approval.