The city of Starkville is moving through the early stages of two infrastructure projects that should further the city’s ongoing efforts to improve pedestrian accessibility options.
On Tuesday, the city accepted $588,000 in federal Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) funds, administered through the Mississippi Department of Transportation, for a multi-use path. The proposed path will run from the intersection of Highway 12 and Spring Street onto Mississippi State University’s campus.
The multi-use path, according to maps in the meeting’s e-packet online, will begin near the Hampton Inn on the south side of the intersection and continue along the south side of Highway 12. It will break away from the highway near Twelve Lane on MSU’s campus until it intersects with Bully Boulevard, then turn to run along Old Bully Boulevard until it reaches the amphitheater.
City Engineer Edward Kemp said the city applied for the project in December.
“This project will provide connection not only for everyday traffic but also a lot of game-day traffic for pedestrians who use that corridor right now,” he said. “It will provide a safe way for them to do that, as well as provide a better connection between the city and university.”
The project is funded with a 20 percent local match. Kemp said the city is working to see if the costs can be split three ways between itself, Oktibbeha County and MSU, which would bring the city’s share to about $80,000.
Mayor Lynn Spruill said the project is another chance for Starkville to spread pedestrian access through the city. It’s working on a multi-use path extension along Louisville Street to Emerson Family School. Kemp said work on a multi-use path along Locksley way and Blackjack Road should begin in the near future.
“This allows us to continue to provide sidewalks and interconnectivity between the county, city and university,” Spruill said. “… This will connect what we’ve already got going on at Spring Street and Blackjack to enhance our ability to improve quality of life and allow pedestrian access to the university and I think that’s a great thing.”
Highway 12 sidewalk project
The city also approved an engineering contract with Garver Engineering, which has an office in Jackson, to plan a project that aims to build more sidewalks along Highway 12.
The city has about $290,000 left over from the “Grand Bullyvard” project the Legislature funded with $750,000 in 2015. That project was geared toward making improvements along the Highway 12 corridor between Spring Street and Russell Street.
Starkville entered an agreement with MDOT in December 2017 to use those funds toward landscaping and sidewalks along Highway 12.
Kemp said the landscaping work is complete, leaving the remaining funds available for sidewalk improvements along the highway.
“The intent will be to use those funds to fill in missing gaps along Highway 12,” Kemp said, “to connect existing points of interest where people are already walking–for example grocery stores or retail areas.”
Kemp said the project will also improve some intersections along Highway 12 and make it easier to cross from one side of the Highway to the other.
While the city has not yet determined where the sidewalks will go — that will be decided through the planning approved on Tuesday — Spruill said it will look at areas that already see high pedestrian traffic.
“Part of the way we’re going to make that determination is by seeing where people are traveling now — where people have worn paths by walking from one location to another on Highway 12,” Spruill said. “I think we will have a opportunity to really make a difference and this summer you will see that extension of sidewalks that will improve the people’s ability to get to and from and around the Highway 12 corridor.”
Both projects were approved as part of Tuesday’s consent agenda, which means they were unanimously approved without discussion along with other housekeeping matters.
Alex Holloway was formerly a reporter with The Dispatch.
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