The Muskegon City Commission on Oct. 14 authorized staff to enter an amended professional services agreement with Prynne and Nieuwhof for $69,590 to finish final design and provide construction-phase engineering services for the Laketon Lakeshore Trail Connector.

Public Works Director Dan Vanderheide told commissioners the connector will link the Laketon Trail and the Shoreline (Lakeshore) Trail by running up the east side of Sanford Street, across Apple Avenue and through the wide terrace area past Leighton Park, out across Shoreline Drive and the railroad tracks to the Shoreline Trail. He said the project received nearly $2 million from MDOT's Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP), with the city matching just under $1 million.

Vanderheide said the TAP grant and associated state reviews required more environmental and historic-preservation study than anticipated. Those added requirements exhausted the money in the original design contract and necessitated the additional engineering funds so the city can complete the design and provide construction-phase services coordinated with MDOTreconstruction of Apple Avenue.

Vice Mayor St. Clair praised the long-standing community goal of closing the final segment and asked staff to confirm routing in front of City Hall. Vanderheide said the trail will run on the east side of Sanford, through Leighton Park, with trailheads at Laketon, Leighton Park and where the connector meets the Shoreline Trail. The design calls for a 10-foot-wide paved trail where it replaces a sidewalk in highly trafficked pedestrian areas.

Commissioners discussed sidewalks and replacement of damaged sidewalk panels on Sanford; Vanderheide said those locations will be replaced as part of the project. The motion to approve the amendment, made by Vice Mayor St. Clair and supported by Commissioner Kilgore, passed on a roll call vote with all members present voting yes.