FAYETTEVILLE -- The Arkansas Department of Transportation has announced the award recipients for their 2023 Transportation Alternatives Program and Recreational Trails Program including several in Northwest Arkansas, according to a news release.
The Transportation Alternatives Program provides money for pedestrians, bicyclists and other non-motorized forms of transportation. It's a reimbursement-type grant program providing an 80% federal share and a 20% local match from eligible applicants.
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 paid for through a portion of Transportation Alternatives Program money set aside specifically for recreational trails, including maintenance and restoration of trails, development and renovation of trailside and trailhead facilities and trail linkages, and construction of new trails.
For 2023, there were 47 Transportation Alternatives Program projects awarded state-wide for about $15 million and a total of 14 Recreational Trails Program projects were awarded for approximately $2 million.
Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley Transportation Alternatives Program projects include:
Benton County
Decatur was given $500,000 to add sidewalks along Mount Olive Road.
Gentry was given $460,000 to extend sidewalks on N. Collins Avenue.
The Northwest Arkansas Mobility Authority was given $500,000 for Heritage Springs Trail, Pleasant Grove Road to Arkansas 12 in Rogers.
Pea Ridge was given $126,000 to extend sidewalks on N. Davis Street.
Carroll County
Eureka Springs was given $500,000 for a pedestrian tunnel at Arkansas 23 and Arkansas 62.
Crawford County
Alma was given $500,000 for Southside sidewalk improvements.
Franklin County
Charleston was given $60,000 for a crosswalk project, Be Safe Charleston.
Madison County
Huntsville was given $267,000 for sidewalk projects on Parrot and Harris streets.
Sebastian County
Fort Smith was given $500,000 for Chaffee Crossing Trail, segment 3.
Lavaca was given $339,000 for sidewalks along Arkansas 96.
Washington County
Fayetteville was given $300,000 for trail improvements at Interstate 49 and Arkansas 62 interchange.
The Northwest Arkansas Mobility Authority was given $144,000 for Heritage Springs Trail from Poplar Street to Drake Street in Fayetteville.
Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley Recreational Trails Program projects include:
Non-motorized
Carroll County
Green Forest was given $54,000 for Matthews Path.
Sebastian County
Sebastian County was given $108,000 for Bob Boyer Park Trails.
Motorized
Franklin County
The U.S. Forest Service was given $218,000 for a Mill Creek Trail equipment training program.