Dexter trail project gets MoDOT grant

DEXTER, Mo. — A trail project for the city of Dexter is among several included in $1.79 million in grant funding announced by the Missouri Department of Transportation.

The city will receive $576,325 to extend a new trail parallel to Arvin Road, between One Mile Road and Sycamore Road, said David Wyman, MoDOT area engineer. The grant is for total project costs.

This is the second phase of Dexter’s trail plan, which is systematically trying to connect the pedestrian

generators, Wyman explained.

“We like the project because Dexter currently does not have a sidewalk path along Business 60, and frequently pedestrians are walking on the edge of the roadway, which has the potential for unsafe conditions,” Wyman said.

Federal funding will pay for 64 percent, or $368,848, of the grant. Local money from the city covers the remainder, Wyman said. The city can now start the detail design phase of the project with a consultant they select, Wyman said.

Other money will fund trails, sidewalks and improved accessibility in the communities of Bertrand, East Prairie, Farmington, Houston, Perryville, Sikeston and Ste. Genevieve County, according to a press release from MoDOT.

Thirteen applications were received this past November totaling more than $4.1 million in requests for the transportation alternative funds.

These funds, which are set aside by Congress to be used specifically for transportation alternatives, allow communities to develop projects that improve the quality of a community and enhance the travel experience, MoDOT reports.

Local agencies could apply for funds to develop a variety of projects located in rural and urban communities to create safe, accessible, attractive and environmentally-sensitive communities where people want to live, work and recreate.