GDOT’s federal grants to help pedestrians
Approximately $2.2 million in federal grants will help Southwest Georgia cities and counties improve median parks and develop trail and streetscape projects that will enhance pedestrian safety
ATLANTA- The Georgia Department of Transportation, in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), awarded Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grants for projects in Ben Hill, Dougherty, Thomas and Worth counties. The grants pay 80% of the project cost and require a 20% local match. The total award amount is a combination of the two.
The largest award of $900,000 will return eight median parks in Fitzgerald (Ben Hill County) to pedestrian and bicycle friendly spaces, as originally designed. At $700,000, the second largest award will pay for preliminary engineering in development of a 13.62-mile paved multi-use trail that connects northwest Albany (Dougherty County) to Sasser in Terrell County. Grants were also awarded for preliminary engineering of streetscape improvements in Sylvester (Worth County) and for right of way needed for sidewalk construction and drainage improvements in Thomasville (Thomas County).
The Georgia DOT-led call for projects was limited to areas with populations fewer than 200,000. Information on all TAP grants that were awarded statewide is listed here.
“Strengthening and creating opportunities in rural Georgia is one of my top priorities,” said Governor Brian P. Kemp. “The TAP grants awarded are an excellent opportunity for smaller communities and local governments to move alternative transportation projects forward that will have positive and long-lasting benefits for the residents and visitors to rural Georgia. I appreciate the role that the Georgia Department of Transportation plays in ensuring these funds are appropriately awarded to better our local communities.”
Georgia DOT Commissioner Russell R. McMurry, P.E., said the Department is proud to partner with FHWA to facilitate and administer the TAP grants.
“One of our most important initiatives is ensuring the safety of the public and these projects, while not traditional road improvement projects, certainly lend themselves to enhancing the safety of the pedestrians of Georgia,” McMurry said.
The application deadline was July 31 and awards were announced earlier this month. Authorized grant applicants, funding requirements and eligible projects information is available at http://www.dot.ga.gov/IS/Funding/TAP.
