The Williams Multiuse Path Committee got a grant! In collaboration with Josephine County Planning and Williams Elementary School, we’ve been selected to receive a $65K grant from a state program called Safe Routes to Schools, as well as matching funds from Josephine County. That’s around $130K to construct a path about four-tenths of a mile from Williams Elementary to Williams General Store and the Post Office.
Now comes the fun part: meeting with county Public Works officials and engineers and Three Rivers School District staff to implement the project. Ideally, our working committee would like a path on the northwest side of Williams Highway on the far side of the ditch to accommodate two-way traffic of walkers, bikers, wheelchairs, and horses. The county may see it differently, though, due to the “challenges” of getting children across the street at the crosswalk and path maintenance issues. To that, our volunteer group has offered to maintain the path as long as the county builds it. And, with effective signage and road striping, we feel the crosswalk can be made safe.
Josephine County Public Works, county engineers, and Three Rivers School District have already met, intending to have our committee present, and we’ve heard about the challenges and potential reworking of this grant toward widening the road and restriping, but without a path. A second meeting is being scheduled, to which we’re to be invited, so we’re patiently waiting to weigh in on the project.
This Phase One of our path throughout Williams appears to be near construction. Additional portions to come are to make local car-free travel safe and pleasant. Send ideas and comments to [email protected] or call 541-846-9443.
