Summit News
Danville-Madison Pedestrian Bridge Awarded Funding
Bob Bird, The Boone Examiner
(November 2011) Officials from Madison, Danville, Summit Engineering and the Boone County Commission joined Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin and State Senator Ron Stollings at the State Capitol Wednesday for the presentation of $700,000 in 2011 Transportation Enhancement Program grants
The $700,000 is more than twice the grant amount of any other project awarded in this round of funding. Morgan County's Berkeley Springs Train Depot Rehabilitation was second in the amount awarded at $304,264 and coming in third was Cabell County's Huntington Old Main Corridor Streetscape which received $300,000.
The grant is for the Danville-Madison Pedestrian Bridge which will be built on the site of a former vehicular bridge near Scott High School that once connected the two cities. The bridge will allow the continuation of a wellness trail from West Madison into Danville. It has taken a year for the project to go through the grant application process to get to this point.
“The towns of Madison and Danville, with the help of Summit Engineering, cooperated in a very unique way to prepare and apply for this grant,” said State Senator Dr. Ron Stollings (D-Boone). “We were also very fortunate that the Boone County Commission saw the value of this project and became a backer as well. Of course, we are thankful that Gov. Tomblin saw the project as an important public asset and granted funding."
“I want to recognize Madison Resident J.D. Elkins of Summit Engineering for his personal assistance and commitment to the project. He provided valuable planning / pre-engineering assistance and helped us with the application process,” said Sen. Stollings. “ Josh Barker with the Town of Danville and Roger Weaver with the Town of Madison were instrumental in shepherding our project through the grant process.”
The 2.5 mile Madison Wellness Trail was designed and built in the 1990s under the Gaston Caperton administration at an original cost of $370,000 which included $250,000 for Phase I (the trail) and $120,000 for Phase II (the pedestrian bridge).
“The Madison Wellness Trail has helped make Madison a very walkable community adding convenience for and improving the health of citizens that use it,” Said Sen. Stollings. ”We have long wanted to extend these benefits into Danville. It also serves as a economic engine, bringing persons wanting to exercise on the trail in touch with area merchants.”
Some citizens have complained about the pedestrian bridge, wanting the county to use the money for more traditional highway projects. The monies granted through this program are specifically earmarked for non-traditional use. The Transportation Enhancement grant program provides monies for non-traditional transportation projects such as improving safety for pedestrians and bicyclists through the construction of sidewalks and trails.