RAPID CITY - Anyone with an idea, no matter how big or small, about how to spend the $1.7 million in federal greenway funds currently burning a hole in the city's pocket soon will get a chance to offer his two-cents' worth.

On Tuesday, Rapid City's public works committee agreed to ask the public to submit proposals for using the money set aside for Rapid City in the 2005 federal transportation bill. The money can be used for greenway, pedestrian and bike-path expansion projects, but so far, the city hasn't decided how to use it.

The city hasn't worked out all the details of accepting proposals yet. Marcia Elkins, the city's growth-management director, said she expects the council will decide Monday how to proceed.

"I suspect we'll put something out on the Web site, like we're doing for comments on the flood (plain issue) right now," she said.

The public works committee set Dec. 6 as the tentative deadline to receive proposals. After that, a committee formed by the mayor will review the ideas and make recommendations to the public works committee on Feb. 12, 2008.

Last year, the city tried to use some of the money to acquire the M Hill property for parkland, but federal officials indicated it couldn't be used for that purpose.

Elkins recently asked state Department of Transportation and federal highway officials to clarify specifically how the money can be used. Those officials indicated a formal written response would not be beneficial because if a good project came along that fell outside the lis, it wouldn't be approved.

Instead, Elkins said, they indicated the city should submit a proposal for review when one is ready.

Until then, state and federal officials offered three general guidelines: projects must be located within Rapid City, along the greenway/pedestrian bike path and must be an expansion of existing facilities, not reconstruction or repair of existing facilities.

"I've had a lot of interest since the article came out in the newspaper," Elkins said. "I've probably had a dozen people with suggestions ask how to be part of the process, and there really isn't a process at this point."

Some suggestions have included improved Omaha Street pedestrian crossings; improved pedestrian paths and bike trails through the downtown area; and tying the greenway and pedestrian/bike trail system to M Hill.

There also has been talk of extending the bike-path system east and west, adding bike lanes on some streets and even turning abandoned railroad lines into a "rails to trails" project between Rapid City and the airport, possibly even extending as far east as the Badlands.

When the city is ready to use the funds, it is required to provide an 18 percent match, which will probably come from 2012 funds.

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