The city of Eureka Springs has been awarded a $500,000 Transportation Alternatives Program grant that will be used to help construct a pedestrian tunnel at the intersection of highways 62 and 23 in conjunction with a planned roundabout.
TAP is a reimbursement type grant program from the Arkansas Department of Transportation that provides for an 80 percent federal share and a 20 percent local match from eligible applicants. Under TAP, eligible projects can include construction of on-road and off-road trail facilities such as sidewalks, bicycle infrastructure, pedestrian and bicycle signals, lighting and other safety-related infrastructure.
The Eureka Springs grant is one of 47 TAP projects recently announced for 2023 that total approximately $15 million statewide.
“We have not at this time received any specific information about the grant, except that we have been awarded it,” Eureka Springs Mayor Butch Berry said in an email. “I am excited that the city has received this grant.”
Berry said the roundabout and pedestrian tunnel will provide a safer route for those walking in the area of the busy intersection of highways 23 and 62, and less than a half-mile north of Greenwood Hollow Road, which leads to the campuses of Eureka Springs Schools.
“This will allow children and other pedestrians to safely cross U.S. Highway 62 to the Eureka Springs Schools and to the other side of the highway,” Berry said. “I have been discussing with the Arkansas Highway Department how pedestrians can safely cross this busy highway since I became mayor and was made aware of the ‘safe route to school’ grants that are being used to build the sidewalks on Highway 62.
“This seems like a perfect solution and timing, especially with the roundabout being constructed.”
Eureka Springs School District Superintendent Bryan Pruitt echoed Berry’s comments regarding the benefits of the planned tunnel.
“It will be a safety thing for us,” Pruitt said. “With the roundabout coming, the pedestrian walkway will be a great thing. We have a lot of kids with after-school activities and it’s not uncommon for them to walk to McDonald’s, get a snack or two, and come back to campus. With the new roundabout and walkway, it’s going to be an awesome thing for us, for safety alone.”
Pruitt said he frequently sees foot traffic in the area where the two highways come together.
“Not just with the schools, but there’s a lot of people that walk up and down 23 all the time and I think this will benefit a lot of folks,” the superintendent said. “Us for sure. A lot of our junior high kids that aren’t driving and are hanging around here for after-school activities, I see them walking down to places like McDonald’s all the time.
“For us as a school district, and for the town as a whole, I see the project as a great benefit. It will be a big relief for us knowing our students will be able to walk around safely.”
In addition to the awarding of various TAP grants, ADOT also announced the recipients of 14 Recreational Trail Program grants that totaled approximately $2 million. RTP is funded through a portion of TAP funds set aside specifically for recreational trails and funds are eligible for maintenance and restoration of existing trails, development and rehabilitation of trailside and trailhead facilities and trail linkages, and construction of new trails.
Of those projects announced, Green Forest will receive $54,000 in RTP assistance to extend City Park walking trails and improve lighting.
Eureka Springs hasn’t been informed of a timeframe regarding the TAP grant, Berry said.
“I have not been informed of any specific timetable or other information at this time,” the mayor said.
