The City of Hattiesburg is hoping a $2.6 million federal grant will provide improvements to 21 of Hub City Transit’s bus stops, including sidewalks, pedestrian signals, and crosswalks.
The City Council approved applying for the grant at its meeting on Tuesday, July 16, at the Jackie Dole Community Center, which is being utilized while the second floor of City Hall is renovated.
City Director of Urban Development Andrew Ellard
“What we are targeting are bus stops, particularly bus stops that we have been using a long time,” said Andrew Ellard, City Director of Urban Development. “Some have not had any sidewalk access, and it’s time to improve those locations. All of the 21 sites are all over our system, everywhere from McKinnis Loop to Highway 42, a couple on Hardy Street, one on Highway 98 West and Highway 42 Bypass.”
The Federal Transit Administration grant application to the Buses and Bus Facilities Program includes $2,616,000 – $2,092,800 federal share and $523,200 local share,
According to the application, the first 2.5 years of the project will consist of project design and property acquisition. The first phase of the project includes engineering and design services to determine needs at each location.
During the design phase of the project, the city will pursue the acquisition of property in areas where additional right-of-way is needed to complete the project. After design and acquisition are complete, the construction phase is estimated to last for the remaining 1.5 years of the project period.
Ellard said the bus stops will be located near pedestrian-busy areas.
“There will be a high concentration of residents,” he said, “like apartments, and high-employment areas as locations that are in need of better walkways.”