Eight Southeast Missouri communities — including Houston — have been selected to receive $1.79 million in transportation alternative funds from MoDOT.
Houston’s share of the federal money, $207,671 will be used for a sidewalk project on U.S. 63 from First Street to near Highway 17. It also includes a new sidewalk on King Street from behind the Houston Elementary School to Ozark Street. The city’s share of the work is $51,918 or 20 percent of the cost. The total outlay is $259,589.
The project, according to an application, would increase safety for students at the school and for those traveling to nearby Westside Park.
The U.S. 63 project stretches 500 feet. The King Street effort totals 847 feet.
Thirteen applications were received this past November totaling more than $4.1 million in requests. The projects consisted of trails, sidewalks and ADA improvements to existing sidewalks. A selection committee comprised of representatives from local regional planning commissions reviewed applications before making their recommendations.
The local agencies selected to receive enhancement funds include Bertrand, Dexter, East Prairie, Farmington, Houston, Perryville, Sikeston and Ste. Genevieve County.
These funds, which are set aside by Congress to be used specifically for transportation alternatives, allow communities to develop projects that improve the quality of a community and enhance the travel experience. Local agencies could apply for funds to develop a variety of projects located in rural and urban communities to create safe, accessible, attractive and environmentally-sensitive communities where people want to live, work and recreate.