RINGGOLD, Ga. — The $250,000 transportation enhancement grant presented to Ringgold officials this week will be used for downtown streetscaping, City Manager Dan Wright said.
“We applied for a $385,000 grant and were fortunate to receive the majority of that request,” he said. “Competition for these grants is intense.”
Mr. Wright said the City Council had agreed to allocate up to $114,000 in local revenue toward the project.
“This project envisioned was for a $500,000 project and we will not have the full amount, so we will let our project design people take a look,” Mr. Wright said. “The scope of streets to be included may be reduced with some included in the next phase.”
Georgia Transportation Board Chairman Mike Evans delivered the check Monday.
“Grant applications for Transportation Enhancement Act funds totaled $16.5 million statewide, while available funding for distribution was $4 million,” he said.
He stopped in Ringgold, Trenton and Dalton on Monday to deliver grants that totaled $800,000, which was 20 percent of the state’s total.
Mr. Evans said the Ringgold application was for a good project and is part of the Ringgold and Catoosa County comprehensive plan.
“Sen. Jeff Mullis, does a good job of representing his district,” Mr. Evans said. “This was a big project to him, and we have worked closely together.”
He said Ringgold and Catoosa County have also expressed their strong support for him as chairman of the Transportation Board, which he held onto after a tough political battle.
“The enhancement act grants are a real shot in the arm for downtown revitalization,” Mr. Evans said. “When visitors see pedestrian friendly and attractive areas with easy parking, they are far more likely to stop.”
Mr. Wright said new curbing and guttering, placement of sidewalks, connecting existing sidewalks, placement of crosswalks and landscaping are among project objectives.
“Some areas to be impacted are LaFayette, Nashville, Cleburne, Depot and Mountain Streets,” he said. “Upgraded crosswalks are planned on Jail and Maple streets.”
Mr. Wright said ornamental streetlights are currently in place on several downtown streets. “We may add a few ornamental lights in needed areas,” he said.
The project will be an improvement at the city’s core area. “It should be a good start on a facelift and will make the area safer and nicer for local residents and tourists,” the city manager said.
Mr. Wright said other projects under way near the old rail Depot include a railway viewing platform and placement of a visitor center in the Depot.
