Monterey Forming Grant Application For More Pedestrian Improvements

Monterey continued work Monday to create a walking corridor that loops around downtown Monterey.

Grant Writer Dawn Kupferer led aldermen through a T-DOT grant application that would be the next step in the town’s connectivity plan.

“The transportation alternative grant aligns perfectly with what we’ve been doing in Monterey for the last 10 years talking about connectivity and how do we connect our whole town,” Kupferer said. “All of our attraction, our schools, our business district in a walkable, safe community.”

Kupferer said the grant would build sidewalks from Burks Elementary School to the rental apartments nearby. Kupferer said the funding would also fix ditches and create crosswalks at Whittaker Park.

“This plan would enclose those ditches and over those ditches it would be a box culvert,” Kupferer said. “The sidewalk would be widened to 10 feet in front of the park. That would give a lot more area for people crossing into the crosswalks.”

Kupferer said the total project would cost about $500,000 with a 20 percent grant from Monterey. Kupferer said this project is just a piece of the overall work required to complete the connectivity plan.

During the public hearing, Resident Tyson Matheney asked if the proposed trail would reach the Standing Stone Memorial Monument.

“Would it be advantageous to include that if we’re going to make it based around the attractions in the area?” Matheney said. “It’s not a long distance.”

Kupferer said the possibility was not being considered, but with the landmark only about 50 feet away from the end of the trail, the idea should be added.

“We could bring a sidewalk out there so people could go out there,” Kupferer said. “We are known for Standing Stone. That’s a great idea.”