City will seek federal funding for sidewalk projects

scottw@standard-democrat.com

SIKESTON -- Sikeston will try to tap into federal funding to make the city more pedestrian friendly.

The Sikeston City Council authorized city staff during the regular City Council meeting Monday to proceed with applying for Missouri Department of Transportation Transportation Alternative Program funding for two sidewalk-related projects.

A number of MoDOT's former programs which provided federal highway funding to cities and counties for the development of bicycles and pedestrian infrastructure have been combined into the new TAP category, Jay Lancaster, public works director, explained.

MoDOT's Southeast District has about $3.09 million in TAP funding to award, Lancaster said, with about 20 communities competing for the funding.

Projects may request from $50,000 to $400,000 in federal funding but with Council and city staff concerns about the city's 20-percent local match being restricted to cash contributions only, Council authorized applying for two projects with a match city officials are comfortable with.

Submitted as the city's top priority is a funding request for improvements to some of the city's existing sidewalks to bring them up to American Disabilities Act accessibility standards.

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