By By JOHN EBY / Dowagiac Daily News
Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) Thursday announced Dowagiac as among 20 small urban areas in 20 counties receiving more than $7 million in FY 2008 federal transportation funding.
The awards are for road improvements and transit projects that range from resurfacing and reconstructing roads to purchasing buses.
Federal funding is awarded at a maximum of $375,000 per project to small urban areas with a population base of 5,000 to 50,000.
Agencies landing federal dollars must provide a 20-percent fund match.
City Manager Bill Nelson said Thursday Dowagiac had not received any official notification from MDOT, the governor's office or any of its state legislators, but "if correct, this is very good news and will address some of the major streets in the community that are in the worst condition and receive the most traffic."
"The opportunity to leverage local funds to accomplish a resurfacing program of this size is important to get the most bang for the buck in the maintenance and repair of our street system," Nelson said.
The city manager said Dowagiac applied for a street resurfacing grant of $276,800 in state funding, with a $103,800 local match.
Work would involve resurfacing, curb repairs and minor drainage improvements to the following streets:
Jefferson Avenue, from S. Front Street to Cass Avenue.
S. Front Street, from Main Street to Jefferson.
High Street, from Lowe Street to Front.
Main Street, from Indiana Avenue to S. Front.
E. Telegraph Street, from W. Railroad Street to Front.
W. Railroad Street, from E. Division Street to E. Telegraph.
Prairie Ronde Street, from N. Front to Fairlawn Drive.
Riverside Drive, from the crosswalk at Riverside Cemetery to E. Division.
The state dictates construction timing.
"This is a program unique to Michigan that benefits Michigan residents. It will spark economic development that will lead to jobs in small urban communities from Au Sable to Tecumseh," said Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm, "and enable local residents to enjoy better roads and improvements to transit services."
Besides Dowagiac, MDOT said communities receiving funding in 2008 include: Au Sable, Belding, Big Rapids, Cadillac, Caro, Coldwater, Durand, Fremont, Holly, Houghton Lake, Ionia, Lapeer, Lowell, Manistee, Marquette, Midland, Plainwell-Otsego, Richmond, Tecumseh and Traverse City
Communities can use this money to invest in their federal aid road system or for public transit capital improvements.
Distributed through MDOT, the funds will be available at the start of the department's 2008 fiscal year on Oct. 1, 2007.
To be eligible for funding, projects must be within the federal aid urban area boundary and located on the federal aid highway system.
MDOT initiated the program in 1991 in an effort to invest federal transportation dollars in small urban communities in Michigan.