Region to receive money for trails

The Arkansas Department of Transportation awarded money to several Northwest Arkansas projects through its Transportation Alternatives Program and Recreational Trails Program for 2019, the agency announced Monday.

Dean’s Trail, Phase III, in northeast Springdale was awarded $500,000. Bella Vista was awarded $340,000 for Mercy Way corridor improvements. Rogers received $340,000 for right of way improvements related to its Safe Routes to School program.

Tim Conklin, with the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission, said he was excited to learn about the awards.

“These projects are part of the overall Northwest Arkansas Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan and link local and regional destinations to the Razorback Regional Greenway,” Conklin said.

The Transportation Alternatives Program provides money for programs and projects defined as alternatives for pedestrians, bicyclists and other nonmotorized forms of transportation.

It was authorized by the federal Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act. The program is a reimbursement type grant program, which provides for an 80% federal share and a 20% local match from eligible applicants.

Under the alternatives program, eligible projects can include construction of on-road and off-road trail facilities that include sidewalks, bicycle infrastructure, pedestrian and bicycle signals, lighting and other safety-related infrastructure. Conversion of abandoned railroad corridors for pedestrian and bicycle trails is also eligible.

The Recreational Trails Program is funded through a portion of the alternatives program set aside specifically for recreational trails maintenance, restoration of existing trails, development and rehabilitation of trailside and trailhead facilities, trail linkages and construction of new trails.

Fayetteville was awarded $170,000 to replace a trail bridge in Wilson Park. Sulfur Springs was awarded $21,000 for a trail in Sulphur Springs Park. A total of 30 Transportation Alternatives projects worth $8 million and 10 Recreational Trails Program projects worth $1.4 million were awarded for 2019.

A few of the larger alternatives program projects in other parts of the state include the Downtown Streetscape in Van Buren and 14th Street’s Pedestrian Bridge over the Union Pacific Railroad in North Little Rock. Trails projects include two trailheads for Fairfield Bay’s ATV/UTV Trails, additional mountain bike trails for Boyle Park in Little Rock and trailhead improvements for the Delta Heritage Trail in Arkansas City.