Project
The Rosebud Indian Reservation, in Todd County, SD, is home to the Rosebud Sioux Tribe. As a result of the poor condition, travelers in the area experienced transportation challenges including limited visibility, lack of transportation access, and constrained transportation options along BIA Route 7 – a vital arterial corridor spanning from the City of Rosebud to US Highway 83. As a result, the corridor needed to be reconstructed and the Rosebud Sioux Tribe and Todd County did not have the financial means to fund the $22.6 million project. Therefore, in 2015 the Rosebud Sioux Tribe and Todd County commissioned KLJ to identify and apply for funding opportunities that fit the project. We worked closely with both parties to understand the project's full magnitude and impact on the region. KLJ developed a comprehensive list of funding opportunities and presented the opportunity to pursue a Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant.
Solution
KLJ prepared a dynamic grant application package seeking TIGER grant funding for the reconstruction of a 16-mile corridor from the City of Rosebud to US Highway 83 on the Rosebud Indian Reservation. For more than a year, KLJ worked to provide exceptional service throughout the preparation of a TIGER grant application and development of the BIA Route 7 to US Highway 83 Improvement Project. Project preparation included all required engineering and design processes, which also included adherence to the National Environmental Policy Act and all environmental requirements.


Results
In July 2016, the Rosebud Sioux Tribe was awarded $14.6 million in funding for reconstruction of the vital corridor connecting the western region of the Rosebud Indian Reservation to the regionally and nationally significant US Highway 83. Additionally, the project will restore vital arterial roadways including BIA 7, Lakeview Road, and 293rd street. Once completed, the project will connect citizens in the area to services essential to their livelihood such as education, healthcare, and living wage employment.
The TIGER funded portion of the project is due to be complete in the fall of 2019. The full project is due to be complete in the fall of 2021.