USM receives grant for walkway project

The University of Southern Mississippi is making the trek more pleasant for those walking its campus.

The university was presented a check for nearly $440,000 Monday from Southern District Transportation Commissioner Tom King that will pay the bulk of a 17-foot-wide pathway project leading from West Fourth Street to Hillcrest Residence Hall.

"This pathway will not only enhance the beauty of our campus but also improve the quality of our students' experience, and increase walkability and functionality for our students, faculty and staff," USM President Rodney Bennett said during a check presentation ceremony Monday morning at the Lucas Administration Building rotunda.

The $439,268 in federal funds administered through the Mississippi Department of Transportation will cover 80 percent of the $549,085 project. USM will provide $109,817 as its 20 percent match.

"People need to understand that these are separate federal highway dollars that are to be used for alternate transportation," King said. "These are monies that we cannot put on highways and bridges.

"There's grant money out there, if you apply for it, and this is going to enhance the aesthetics of this campus tremendously."

It marked the second grant that USM recently had received for walkway projects, following on the heels of a $683,560 MDOT grant that will fund 80 percent of an east-west, walkway upgrade that will run from Pride Field to Scianna Hall and then north along Eagle Walk to West Fourth Street.

USM will contribute about $171,000 to that $854,560 project that is expected to be let for bid in September with construction beginning after USM's football season this fall.

The West Fourth to Hillcrest project is expected to fall into the 2016 calendar year.

"We've kind of got them stacked, one on top of the other," said Christopher Crenshaw, USM associate vice president for facilities planning and management/physical plant. "We try to keep these kind of projects in the pipeline and we have other areas where we need this kind of assistance.

"Hopefully, as the money becomes available, we can put together a package that is competitive. We couldn't do it without (MDOT) grant money, so we are very grateful and appreciative."