Politics & Government

Alpharetta Wants $4.2 Million for Big Creek Greenway

If completed, Alpharetta's trail would connect Forsyth and Roswell trail systems.

Alpharetta is trying to win a $4.2 million grant to connect the Big Creek Greenway north to Forsyth County's greenway trail across McGinnis Ferry Road.

Grants Administrator Amanda Day got City Council approval Monday night to submit a letter of interest to the Atlanta Regional Commission for the Transportation Alternatives Program. If the city wins the grant, it must provide an $841,278 match, or 20 percent.

The state has $14-15 million in grant funds from several sources, and wants large, regional projects.

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Completion of Alpharetta's Big Creek Greenway trail, which already is approximately 8 miles long, would allow visitors to the trail to walk or bike continuously from Forsyth County, through Alpharetta and into the Roswell trail system. Alpharetta and Roswell previously connected their trails along Big Creek.

Day said she met with Engineering & Public Works, Parks and Recreation and Community Development. The project choice was hands down, the final leg of the greenway that connects the three jurisdictions' trails. That is the regional component that is required, she said.

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Day said she has spoken with her Forsyth County counterpart, and the county is supportive of Alpharetta's greenway extension. However, Forsyth also is applying for a Transportation Alternative Program grant, which puts them in competition for funding.

Alpharetta will first send a letter of interest by Friday. The Atlanta Regional Commission will short-list the most promising projects, and those cities and counties will submit full applications in August.


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