Funding approved for projects to make West Virginia more walkable

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WBOY) — Projects in 10 north central West Virginia counties that will improve sidewalks and trails have received funding.

Gov. Jim Justice announced Thursday that thanks to state, federal and local funds, the following projects in north central West Virginia are moving forward.

Harrison County

• The City of Clarksburg has been awarded $100,000 for Glen Elk Streetscape and Green Infrastructure—Phase I, which will fund new and replacement sidewalks throughout the Glen Elk area of the City.
• The City of Clarksburg has been awarded $300,000 for Clarksburg Hub Urban Rail-Trail Connection—Phase I to construct trail segments to close a rail-trail gap within the City.
• The City of Clarksburg has secured $284,970 for the Lowndes Park Trail System and Bike Park. The funding will be used to construct nine trails totaling approximately 4.5 miles, including a jump trail, a pump track and two trailheads in Lowndes Hill.

Barbour County

• The City of Philippi has secured $75,000 for new and replacement sidewalks along both sides of Main Street.

Doddridge County

• Doddridge County Commission has secured $125,000 for the Doddridge County Park Pedestrian Bridge, spanning the Meathouse Fork and connecting to the EQT Creekside Education Trail and the North Bend Rail Trail.

Lewis County

• The Lewis County Commission has secured $152,731 for the Lewis County Park Trail Extension, which will add approximately 1,000 feet of new trails and upgrade the current 2,000 feet of walking paths at Lewis County Park.

Monongalia County

• Monongahela River Trails Conservancy has been awarded $300,000 for Deckers Creek Rail Trail Restoration. The funding will be used to restore the drainage and surface of approximately five miles of the Trail.
• The City of Morgantown has secured $945,000 for the Morgantown Municipal Airport Streetscape Project. The funding will be used to build a new sidewalk and add pedestrian lighting along Hart Field Road, from the Mileground to the terminal.
• The City of Westover has received $125,000 for Westover Fairmont Road Sidewalks, which will fund new sidewalks on the north side of Fairmont Road (Route 19) from Dupont Road to Dent’s Run Road.
• Sally Taylor, West Virginia Botanic Garden, Inc., has secured $50,000 for trail improvements and rehab of approximately three-quarters of a mile of the Garden’s main trail, the Reservoir Loop Trail (RLT), which encircles the central features of the Garden.

Randolph County

• Randolph County Commission has been awarded $50,000 for Randolph County Courthouse ADA Compliant Entrance and Sidewalks. The funding will be utilized for the reconstruction of the main entrance sidewalk and stairs of the courthouse to bring them into ADA compliance and for a new sidewalk connection to make a continuous walking path around the courthouse complex.
• Elkins Parks and Recreation Commission has received $485,000 for Glendale Park Skills Area, a recreation complex with athletic fields, an inclusive playground, hiking and mountain biking trails, and other amenities.
• Monongahela National Forest Greenbrier RD has been awarded $375,000 for Mower Tract North—Phase IV, which will construct 8.2 miles of the new trail at Mower Tract, Cheat Mountain, and connect it with the existing loops (Phase 1-3) on the Monongahela National Forest Mower basin.

Ritchie County

• North Bend Rails-To-Trails Foundation, Inc., has received $100,000 for North Bend Rail Trail—Phase II, which includes surveying and ditching the Trail.

Tucker County

• The Town of Davis has secured  $100,000 to be used for approximately 3,000 feet of new and replacement sidewalks along Main Street.
• The Nature Conservancy has secured $300,000 for Brown Mountain to A-Frame Connector, which includes the construction of trails that provide access to additional trails at the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge.

Upshur County

• The City of Buckhannon has received $75,000 for the Buckhannon Morton Avenue & North Locust Street Sidewalk & Lighting Project. The funding will be used to install new sidewalks and lighting along North Locust Street and Morton Avenue.

Webster County

• The town of Cowen has been awarded $90,000 for new and replacement sidewalks along Erbacon Road and Webster Road.

These projects, along with projects in 24 other counties around West Virginia, are receiving a total of nearly $19 million in funding, according to Gov. Justice’s press release.

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