Pettit Creek Trail Gets Funding

State Representative Paul Battles, R-Cartersville, and State Transportation Board member David Doss recently announced the city of Cartersville will receive $860,000 in Transportation Enhancement funding for the Pettit Creek Trail Phase III Connectivity Project.

This project completes the construction of a multi-use trail that will be approximately 1.7 miles long and will connect to the baseball complex. In addition, the sidewalk on Cherokee Street and Mission Road will be extended an additional 2400 feet to the intersection of Pettit Creek Trail.

“This project will give our community access to our parks and historical sites, giving them an opportunity to walk, run, bike or skate from there to the downtown area,” said Battles in a release. “I am very pleased that we have been able to attain the funding to complete the final phase of this project.”

The TE program is federally funded and was originally established in 1991 by the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act. The program was continued by the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act – A Legacy for Users in 2005. The Georgia DOT’s Office of Program Delivery manages the TE program in Georgia.

“This is the largest single TE grant that I have ever awarded to a community,” Doss said. “Residents of Cartersville will enjoy these facilities where they can exercise and enjoy the rich history of their community. Rep. Battles was a key advocate in securing TE funds for this project. I am proud that Georgia DOT could make it a reality.”

Projects funded by the TE program include multi-use facilities such as walking and biking trails and paths; streetscaping and landscaping projects in cities and towns; historic preservation of transportation-related facilities like railroad depots; and scenic preservation of views and scenic byways. Up to 80 percent of the funds being used for these projects have been provided by the Federal Highway Administration, with the local government funding the remainder of the total project cost. The local government project sponsor is responsible for implementing the TE project and obtaining federal reimbursement from Georgia DOT.