City receives grants for upgrades

The Texas Transportation Commission announced a matching grant of $552,800, while the Texas Department of Transportation announced they will grant the city $400,000 through their Green Ribbon Program. The TTC grant is 80/20, which requires a city match of $138,200 with council to determine from where it will be allocated.

City engineer Gretchen Vazquez said the TTC grant will be used for:

• Six-foot wide sidewalks on the west side of Kings Gate Road between Meadow Place Drive and Kings Gate Park.
• Six-foot wide bike lanes on Meadow Place Drive from the Interstate 20 Frontage Road all the way to West Jockey.
• Two American Disabilities Act ramps.
• Crosswalks.
• Illumination.

“We’re trying to fill in the gaps in the sidewalk system,” Vazquez said.

Vazquez also said that future additions to the bike lanes will eventually take it all the way to Lake Weatherford.

“We’re trying to encourage healthier lifestyles, encourage exercise and outdoor activities,” Interim City Manager Toni Fisher said.

Fisher said the Green Ribbon grant will be used for landscaping on the south side of Interstate 20, the land east of Mikus Road at the entrance ramp. Plans are to do some beautification, including some native plants.