Officials with the U.S. Department of Transportation have denied a request from the City of Harlan and metropolitan Area Planning Association for reimbursement of funds for the city’s Pioneer Park trail. A letter was sent in October to the U.S. Department of Transportation, Iowa Division Administrator, asking that the initial funding of $272,400 for the project be granted.

The letter stated that through miscommunication, the project was inadvertently not included in the Regional Planning Transportation Improvement Program even though the project was originally submitted and approved by the association for a Transportation Alternatives Program project. The City of Harlan, believing the project was included in the Transportation Improvement Program, moved on with construction of the project.

The DOT response to the request said not only was the project not listed in the Transportation Improvement Program, but none of the federal regulations were in compliance. And in accordance with rules and regulations, there is no mechanism to grant a waiver for the project.

The City may continue to investigate options for reimbursement for the project from federal and/or state sources.

(KNOD)