We have disappointing news about the $2.13 million grant awarded to MODOT and the City of Columbia to begin the process of improving the Business Loop.
Federal Highway Administration has been told to withdraw the funds and close out the grant so we are unable to go forward with this important step towards a better street and a more welcoming gateway into Columbia.
This is a City of Columbia grant, in partnership with us and the MO Department of Transportation, and we are all working to understand what the path forward might be. Repairing, upgrading, and beautifying the Business Loop is a major project and it will be difficult to accomplish without federal support.
We are, of course, ready to reapply for another federal grant if and when those are announced. If federal funds are no longer available, we will work with the city to explore other locally-initiated funding tools that are not reliant on grants.
In the meantime, it appears the City's federal grant from the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program for a Road Safety Audit of the Business Loop 70 is moving forward. This will allow us to take a deeper dive into the current issues with safe travel--cars, pedestrians, and bikes--along the corridor and make some detailed recommendations for proven safety measures.
The people of Columbia and the City of Columbia have been amazingly supportive of our efforts to improve the Business Loop—which is not just an economic engine for the city but our main gateway into Columbia. Despite this setback, the Board of the Loop Community Improvement District hopes we have your support as we explore all our options for funding this important redevelopment project.
