Thanks to funds from the federal TE and RTP programs, Gainesville is looking forward to completing a major Greenway project this spring.

AccessNorthGA.com reports:

It's all part of the city's Midtown Redevelopment Plan dating back to 2001. The project includes stream restoration, new multi-use trails, sidewalks and midtown parking to replace slum and blight. [Gainesville Special Projects Manager Jessica] Tullar said eventually the project will provide alternative transportation all the way down to Gainesville State College. Instead of driving, a student could get on a bicycle and ride to class.

"There is a greater master plan that connects all of the existing trails, the Rock Creek Greenway, the Midtown Greenway now under construction and those that are planned by the county," Tullar said. "Eventually it will connect with Longwood Park and go all the way down to Chicopee Woods. When we get Phase One completed, folks can go from the lake through downtown to MLK and turn around and go back."

"It's nice to see some of the taxpayer dollars coming back to our community and being transformed into a visible amenity," she added and more money is now available. "The city has secured additional transportation enhancement dollars to help fund Phase Two of the Midtown Greenway which will connect from Martin Luther King down to Industrial Boulevard."

Tullar said the city received $500,000 in transportation enhancement funds and recently applied for another recreation trails grant for $100,000 for connection from Industrial Boulevard the Airport.

You may have seen our previous posts or email alerts about the threat facing the TE and RTP (as well as Safe Routes to School) programs. Congress will be drafting and debating a federal transportation funding bill early this spring, and many members of Congress are aggressively seeking to remove or significantly de-fund TE, RTP, and SRTS funding, which makes up a tiny percentage of the overall transportation budget for the nation, yet provides long-term health, recreation, environmental, and economic benefits to Georgia's communities. Without these funding sources, our communities will continue to experience snarled traffic, dangerous levels of obesity, and poor air quality.  

Make sure your Congressional representatives know that you support dedicated funding for bicycle and pedestrian projects in Georgia!