RAPID CITY - It's been two years since a federal earmark set aside $1.7 million for Rapid City greenway, pedestrian and bike path expansion projects, but so far the city hasn't decided how to use that money.

The money is part of $1.3 billion spread over five years designated for South Dakota in the 2005 federal transportation bill.

Though the city doesn't need to spend the money by a certain date, Alderman Malcom Chapman brought it up at last week's city council meeting during approval of a Safe Streets grant to try to spur progress.

Chapman believes the federal funds can work hand in hand with the Safe Streets initiative to improve pedestrian safety and access.

"I think there are a lot of conversations going on about ways to use it but I don't know specifically what it should be used for," he said.

"I think we can use some of it for greenway expansion but I'm not sure if we can use it for parkland acquisition now because I think the focus has been narrowed."

The city tried to use those funds to acquire M Hill property for parkland, but federal officials indicated it couldn't be used for that purpose. Now Chapman said he needs clarification on exactly how the money can be used.

Marcia Elkins, the city's growth management director, said several ideas have been discussed by various groups in the community but no decisions have been made.

Some ideas she's heard discussed include improved Omaha Street pedestrian crossings; improved pedestrian paths and bike trails through the downtown; and tying the greenway and pedestrian/bike trail system to M Hill.

"Just about anywhere in the community, we've talked about a way to improve pedestrian access," Elkins said.

Jerry Cole, parks and recreation director, said if money was available, it could be used to extend the bike path system both east and west, and some groups in the community have expressed a desire to add bike lanes on some streets and a whole host of other things.

"I've heard rumors throughout the city of different groups wanting to use it for different things," Cole said.

There has also been some very early discussion of an idea to turn abandoned railroad lines into a "rails to trails" project between Rapid City and the airport, and possibly even extending as far east as the Badlands, Cole said.

Right now, Cole is researching who owns the abandoned line, but he keeps running into dead ends.

He said he doesn't know if it's still controlled by Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern or someone else.

"Our part of the project would probably end at the city limits, which is out by the airport."

He said he thinks the mountain bike association and the National Park service are considering a joint project. "But it's just in the beginning stages of just a few e-mails and a few phone conversations. We're still doing research right now."

Elkins suggested the council may want to form a task force to consider ways to use the money and then make recommendations.

When the city is ready to use the funds it is required to provide an 18 percent match, probably through 2012 funds.

Chapman's time has been focused on the budget so he hasn't had time to push for that kind of meeting but he hopes bringing it up in a council meeting will start the ball rolling.

"I think we need to start using it," he said.

Contact Scott Aust at 394-8415, or scott.aust@rapidcityjournal.com