The Central Mississippi Planning and Development District (CMPDD) announced that the Jackson MPO approved $22.3 million in funding for metro-area transportation projects aimed at reducing congestion and improving the safety and efficiency of the regional multi-modal transportation system.
“Transportation is about providing options to keep everyone moving. Funding approved today will support community-based projects that integrate transportation enhancements and provides for new economic development opportunities in the metro-area,” said Pelahatchie Mayor Knox Ross, Chairman of the MPO Policy Committee.
Funding for these projects is available through the MPO as part of the 2012 Transportation Bill, Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21).
This year, the MPO focused on providing funding to projects that can be completed in a relatively short timeframe, and that address safety and congestion concerns. Twenty-five (25) of the twenty-six (26) projects selected for funding had their requests fully funded by the MPO.
“One important thing to note is this process is one step further toward implementation of a federally required Transportation Plan. Each project selected represents only a small piece of a much larger transportation scheme,” according to F. Clarke Holmes, CEO of CMPDD.
In total, the CMPDD received 53 applications requesting more than $54 million in funding. However, the MPO only has enough funds available to fund the top twenty-six (26) rated projects. Combined the local entities receiving the $22.3 million in transportation funding have committed to providing over $26 million in local matching funds.
Projects selected for funding such as resurfacing Robinson Road and installing a traffic signal in Canton at Commerce Drive should be completed in a relatively short timeframe (1 to 2 years) while other projects such as the construction of West Rankin Parkway and Lake Harbour Drive Extension will take a much lengthier timeframe to complete.
Projects selected for funding were based on four (4) project types (Traffic Operational Improvements, Capacity Deficiency, Pavement Management, and Small Municipalities).
For a complete list of projects selected click here.
For a map highlighting the projects selected click here.
