The city of Hailey is on a string of wins when it comes to acquiring federal funding for city projects. The city has been awarded about $5.3 million since the beginning of the year for renewable energy technology, historic preservation and road projects.
The largest portion of funding came this week in the form of a $3.5 million U.S. Department of Transportation grant to build sidewalks and bike lanes on two and a half miles of Woodside Boulevard.
The 35-year-old road serves a dense population of Hailey residents but was built only to accommodate automobiles. The grant will be used to widen the street and build bike lanes and sidewalks on both sides of the street.
The funding will be used to fulfill a Complete Streets goal of the Hailey Planning Department, allowing for bike and pedestrian access on city rights of way. Complete Streets is a national movement to provide bike lanes and pedestrian access on motorways.
"The city owns an 80-foot-wide right of way along Woodside Boulevard," said Public Works Director Tom Hellen. "The street itself is only 30 feet wide right now."
Hellen said surveying has already begun on the project. Construction could begin as early as June.
Hellen said part of the city's plan includes holding neighborhood meetings in Woodside to get an understanding of what changes to the street will mean for people's property.
"One of the first tasks is to see if we can fit a roundabout at the corner of Fox Acres Road and Woodside Boulevard," Hellen said.
A roundabout is a circular traffic pattern at an intersection that eliminates the need for stop signs.
Hailey's project was one of 42 capital construction projects and 33 planning projects in 40 states that will share nearly $600 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation's TIGER II program for major infrastructure projects.
"These are innovative, 21st-century projects that will change the U.S. transportation landscape by strengthening the economy and creating jobs, reducing gridlock and providing safe, affordable and environmentally sustainable transportation choices," said Secretary Ray LaHood in a news release.
Tony Evans: tevans@mtexpress.com
Dustin Shenk, of engineering firm Benchmark Associates, does survey work along Woodside Boulevard in Hailey Wednesday. Photo by David N. Seelig
