Athens is set to become a more equitable place to live and commute, with the Athens-Clarke County Unified Government (ACCGov) bagging a hefty $800,000 planning grant aimed at boosting safety and connectivity in several of its key corridors, as reported by the local authority. The grant, bestowed by the friendly pockets of the federal government through the Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods (RCN) Grant Program, was announced in partnership with the U.S Department of Transportation (USDOT).
Specifically, the grant will cast its financial spell over Hawthorne Avenue from Prince Avenue to West Broad Street, Alps Road from West Broad Street to Baxter Street, and Oglethorpe Avenue from Prince Avenue to Mitchell Bridge Road, the ACCGov Transportation and Public Works Department is taking the reins in project management, and the targeted areas will see planning efforts to enhance conditions for pedestrians, bikers, transit riders, and those with mobility impairments a move lauded by officials for not only making roads 'less road-like' but more akin to webbing together the dispersed life of the city, like an urban tapestry.
In a statement obtained by ACCGov's news release, Transportation and Public Works Director of ACCGov, Stephen Bailey, emphasized the historical challenges of the corridors stating, "These corridors are more than just roads, they are lifelines linking our neighborhoods, businesses, and institutions" further adding that the investments are pegged as seeds for a 'vibrant and interconnected Athens for generations.' The financial influx will not be used to please those cruelties with a single-occupant vehicle obsession, as expansions of highways, and additional lanes are off the menu for the RCN funding criteria.
While the planning is slated to kick off in the fall of 2024, public input will be sought throughout the process; nonetheless, some design work for the Oglethorpe Avenue and Hawthorne Avenue intersection is already on the cards for construction come fall of this year – these efforts will eventually link arms with the broader RCN scheme improvements, as per the details the ACCGov announcement. The ACCGov Transportation and Public Works Department stands firm on its commitment to the community to provide safe and effective transportation avenues, be they for foot traffic or stormwater alike.
