Implement MISS Multi-Modal Alternative Transportation Plan- Robert Piram Trail In St. Paul, MN | NPS NOIP18AP00150

Opportunity Information: Apply for NPS NOIP18AP00150

The grant opportunity titled "Implement MISS Multi-Modal Alternative Transportation Plan - Robert Piram Trail in St. Paul, MN" is a discretionary National Park Service (NPS) grant (Funding Opportunity Number: NPS NOIP18AP00150) focused on expanding and completing a key missing segment of the region's alternative transportation network along the Mississippi River corridor. The core goal is to close existing trail gaps between the Dakota County Big Rivers Trail in Lilydale, continuing through Harriet Island Regional Park in Saint Paul, and extending to Kaposia Landing Park in South St. Paul. The result is intended to be a continuous, multi-use, off-road trail facility that strengthens safe, convenient non-motorized travel for walking, biking, and other compatible uses.

A major outcome of the project is the completion of an approximately 15-mile off-road trail route that parallels the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers. By stitching together these segments, the project improves direct access to riverfront parks and river-related destinations in Lilydale and Saint Paul while creating a clearer, more seamless experience for residents and visitors moving along the river corridor without needing a car. The emphasis is on making the river easier to reach for surrounding communities and helping people move between parks and riverfront areas in a way that is both practical and enjoyable.

This trail segment is also framed as an important piece of the larger Mississippi River Trail system and is expected to increase connectivity to large portions of the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (NRRA). In particular, it strengthens the link between this alternative transportation gateway and the Hastings gateway to the south, helping create a more continuous corridor experience. In addition to basic connectivity, the opportunity highlights the recreational and interpretive value of the route, including expansive views of working river activity and the role of trail signage in improving visitor orientation, recognition of the NRRA, and overall visibility of the national park area. Signage is anticipated to support a better visitor experience by helping people understand where they are, what they are seeing, and how the corridor fits into the broader river and park landscape.

From a public-benefit standpoint, the project is positioned as a way to expand non-motorized access for a wide range of users, explicitly including visitors from underserved communities. The grant narrative ties this access goal to broader transportation and environmental benefits such as reducing congestion and vehicle emissions while also protecting park resources by shifting some travel demand away from cars. The project is described as a high priority action within the MISS Five Year Alternative Transportation Implementation Plan, with the broader objective of building a seamless and recognizable alternative transportation system that reliably gets people to the river without a car and does so in a way that supports long-term resource protection.

Key administrative details include that the funding instrument is a grant, the activity categories are community development and transportation, and the CFDA number is 15.941. Eligible applicants are limited to city or township governments, reflecting the local infrastructure and public access nature of the work. The opportunity was posted by the Department of the Interior, National Park Service, with a creation date of May 10, 2018, and an original closing date of May 31, 2018. The award ceiling is $400,000, and the program anticipated making one award, indicating a single-project, targeted investment intended to deliver a specific, high-impact trail connection in the St. Paul area.

• The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the community development, transportation sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Implement MISS Multi-Modal Alternative Transportation Plan- Robert Piram Trail In St. Paul, MN" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.941.
• This funding opportunity was created on May 10, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by May 31, 2018. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $400,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: City or township governments.

Apply for NPS NOIP18AP00150

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