City to apply for MDOT TAP funding for Highland Parkway's next phase

Jonathan Hickman of Dungan Engineering

The City of Picayune will be applying for a Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) grant to complete the next phase of lighting and sidewalks for Highland Parkway. The city council approved the request to apply for the MDOT Transportation Alternate Project (TAP) funding during Tuesday’s meeting.

Jonathan Hickman of Dungan Engineering, representing the City Engineer’s office, gave the council details on the amount and timing of the TAP grant.

According to Hickman, the total cost of the project is estimated to be $508,058.75 with the city responsible for a 20% match of $101,611.75. The application is due at the end of January. MDOT TAP funds will be available in last quarter of this year if awarded. The project would not begin until mid 2019.

Council member Larry Breland asked City Clerk Amber Hinton where the city’s money will come from for this project and would the city pay their portion in increments or all at one time?

“General fund, cash reserve. The city pays the whole amount up front and is then reimbursed by the state,” Hinton explained. Hinton added that based on when the funds would be available, it would most likely be on the next fiscal year’s budget.

Councilman Wayne Gouguet asked Hickman if he could try to include lighting in this project to take care of a dark spot that exists on Highway 43 North just as drivers exit Interstate 59. The area is at the intersection of Highway 43 and Cooper Road. Hickman said he would look into it along with the city’s Director of Public Works Eric Morris.

“This project will extend the sidewalk on Highland that currently ends at the entrance to Trinity United Methodist Church and will run all the way down that side until it becomes adjacent to the sidewalks on the other side of Highland Parkway. The lighting will cover the rest of the road the road that is currently without lights,” Hickman explained after the meeting.