Among the items to be considered by the City’s Legal and Finance Committee today (Wednesday) will be authorizing acceptance of two significant grants awarded to the City of Rapid City.
One grant from the US Department of Transportation for $1.1 million would undertake a planning study to pursue a railroad quiet zone in the downtown area. The other grant for $117,338 from the South Dakota Department of Health would assist the Rapid City Fire Department with recruiting and training volunteers from surrounding communities throughout western South Dakota.
The railroad quiet zone planning study would be funded with a Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) discretionary grant. It would include studying safety improvements that would minimize the impacts of train movements at multiple rail crossings throughout the Rapid City downtown corridor.
“Noise pollution and safety concerns are top issues downtown residents and businesses have shared with city leaders,” said City Long Range Planning Manager Kip Harrington. “This study is a critical preliminary step to assess what is needed and how much it will cost.”
Harrington said information from the study will help the city secure both external and internal resources to make the necessary construction and safety improvements in the future.
The state grant is a Regional Service Designation Phase 2 grant. City officials indicate the grant will help increase the number of certified paramedics, EMTs and AEMTs for western South Dakota communities.
“The state divided up grant funding in two phases. We received first phase funding in May and used it to purchase training equipment,” said Rapid City Fire Chief Jason Culberson. “This latest award involves the second phase of funding and will cover staff time and books for the participants in these critical areas.”
City Grants Division Manager Jamie Toennies said the grants are the latest awards applied for, and awarded to the City that help supplement funds approved by the City Council to support City departments.
