What Happened?
The Federal Highway Administration is allocating $400,000 to Seymour, Connecticut (pop. 16,540), for the development of a scenic greenway trail along the Naugatuck River. The first phase of the project will be funded through the FHA’s Transportation Alternatives Program.
The Goal
The Federal Highway Administration’s Transportation Alternatives Program awarded funds to the Valley Council of Governments to fund a different project a few years ago. As construction on that development was delayed, the money has been approved for the Seymour greenway in the meantime.
The $400,000 Federal Highway Administration’s TAP grant will be put toward construction costs in Phase 1 of the greenway. For any additional funding provided by Seymour, the federal government will guarantee a 20 percent match. Seymour officials are investigating additional funding sources to fulfill the town’s contribution.
The greenway trail is part of Seymour’s Downtown Action Strategy Plan and won the city a Commitment to Main Street award for the improvement plans. To develop its master downtown plan, Seymour received a $10,000 state grant in 2012.
The goal of the greenway trail is to attract residents and tourists to the nearby Naugatuck River, as well as create a safe pathway for pedestrians and cyclists navigating the community or seeking outdoor recreational activity. The greenway trail is expected to improve the quality of life for residents while making better use of available green space.
Project Details
In Phase 1 of the greenway trail development, Seymour will create a 700 foot linear walking trail along the Naugatuck River. Connecticut is currently involved in a $5 million Department of Transportation million fish bypass channel project, and the greenway trail will be another component of the initiative. The greenway trail will lead pedestrians to the river’s edge to enjoy the landscape and wildlife.
Once completed, the greenway trail is projected to offer 1,400 feet of waterfront paths accented with benches and signs along the way. A bridge over the river will connect the path back to the city center. By segmenting the project into distinct phases, Seymour officials hope to acquire state and federal funding to help cover costs throughout the process.
TAP Funding
Through the Federal Highway Administration, the Transportation Alternatives Program was created to connect local communities with federal funding for a wider variety of transit-related projects not already covered by existing programs. The main projects funded by the program include:
- Transportation enhancements
- Recreational trails
- Safe routes to school
TAP has access to 2 percent of the Highway Account of the Highway Trust Fund annually. In 2013, TAP distributed $809 million nationwide, while $820 million is available for projects this year.
How much funding is made available to each state depends on the state’s proportionate share of Transportation Enhancements funding in 2009. At the local level, funding is dependent on the state’s apportionments of:
- National Highway Performance Program
- Surface Transportation Program
- Highway Safety Improvement Program
- Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program
- Metropolitan Planning
Creating a Path
Gov1 has reported on several federally-funded trail projects as well as paths derived from abandoned railways.