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MCCOMB, MISS. — The Mississippi Transportation Commission recently announced $469,100 in Federal Transportation Alternatives (TA) Program funds for the City of Natchez for aesthetic improvements to the 100 block of North Commerce Street.
“We are very pleased to announce the approval of these federal dollars for the City of Natchez. While our goal at MDOT is to increase the safety of the traveling public, it doesn’t stop there; these funds help ensure we are improving the quality of life for residents as well,” said Commissioner Tom King, Southern Transportation District.
The scope of the project includes upgrading sidewalks to current ADA standards, incorporating new aesthetic light poles, providing safety for both pedestrian and vehicular traffic, and improving handicapped access at the intersections of Main and Franklin Street.
“On behalf of the City of Natchez, our Board of Alderman and the citizens, I would like to thank Southern District Transportation Commissioner Tom King for providing $469,100.00 in Federal Transportation Alternative Program funds for the purpose of improvements to the Downtown Entertainment District along the 100 block of North Commerce Street,” said Dan M. Gibson, Mayor of the City of Natchez.
Mayor Gibson continued “I am grateful to Commissioner Tom King and MDOT for accepting our request to fund the restoration of sidewalks on Commerce Street. We have been in communication with Commissioner King and his office for over a year to assist us in bringing our city into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act. This area of downtown was initially discussed.”
Alderwoman Valencia Hall, whose ward includes the downtown, stated “I am grateful to Commissioner Tom King and MDOT for accepting our request to fund the restoration of sidewalks on Commerce Street. We have been in communication with Commissioner King and his office for over a year to assist us in bringing our city into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act. This area of downtown was initially discussed. There have been delays, but this request is now being fully funded. Thank you, Commissioner King and Mississippi Department of Transportation, for recognizing that all means of transportation are crucial, particularly for Individuals with Disabilities”.
TA funds are federal transportation dollars that are for non-roadway improvements such as sidewalks, multiuse paths, pedestrian lighting, and traffic relief. The funds flow through the Mississippi Department of Transportation’s (MDOT) Local Public Agency (LPA) division. These funds require a 20 percent local match.
LPA programs leverage local investments with federal funds for infrastructure improvements to enhance the quality of life for residents throughout Mississippi. MDOT serves as a conduit for local governments to access federal Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act funds. MDOT provides project guidance and oversight but does not receive any portion of the funding.
“We also want to thank Commissioner King for the recent cleaning by the Mississippi Department of Transportation of the Natchez Parkway Bridge terminus on Liberty Road and the safety improvements made to Morgantown Road. These contributions greatly enhance the safety, beauty, and attractiveness of our historic city, and we are grateful to Commissioner King and MDOT for their part in the Natchez Renewal,” said Mayor Gibson.
The City of Natchez will provide additional information regarding timelines and impacts to traffic before the start of construction.
Work zones present new traffic patterns and configurations that may be unfamiliar to some motorists. For information about how to navigate highway work zones safely, visit GoMDOT.com/drivesmartms.
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