EXCELSIOR SPRINGS – The City Council approved an agreement April 4 to seek a federal grant to make road improvements.

The city sought a grant in 2021 but did not receive money.

“The application scored as ‘highly recommended,’ but there was not enough funding to support all applications in the final round,” City Manager Molly McGovern stated.

Funding plans for the new application include railroad crossing renovations at Kearney and Wornall roads “to make accommodations for pedestrians and bikes,” McGovern said.

“If the railroad is interested in matching to fund a new bridge at those locations, we would include those bridges in our application,” she said.

The city approved an agreement with Vireo LLC, with offices in Kansas City, to seek the federal grant. The company’s website states services cover “landscape architecture, planning and design.”

McGovern said the agreement covers services to help the city reapply for Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation.