Healthier Lyon County Grant Manager Daphne Mertens says upcoming sidewalk and pathway additions within the city of Emporia will go a long way in supporting various demographics.
It was recently announced the city of Emporia had secured grant funding through the Kansas Department of Transportation to support building sidewalks and safe pathways for pedestrians and cyclists at 12th and Burlingame and also 24th from Prairie to Lincoln. That project will also include a dedicated LCAT bus stop on East 12th near Burlingame.
John Proehl of the Emporia Engineering Department says these two areas are ideal locations for the projects.
When it comes to projects of this nature, Mertens tells KVOE it is always Healthier Lyon County’s goal to ensure the additions benefit the entire community.
The majority of the money for the project, a little more than $483,000, will come from the KDOT Transportation Alternatives Grant program with the city set to provide a 20 percent match which will be provided by Healthier Lyon County according to Mertens. According to Proehl, design work should wrap up by either the summer or fall of this year with bidding set to take place next spring with construction to follow shortly after.
The KDOT Transportation Alternatives Grant program provides funding for a variety of alternative transportation projects including bike paths, sidewalks, safety and mobility enhancement projects, safe and secure school routes and much more.
More information on the program can be found at KSdot.gov.
