Walker County to submit application for rural travel assistance pilot grant to fund traffic and evacuation studies in Precinct 4

Walker County Commissioners Court authorized staff to submit an application for the Rural and Travel Assistance Pilot Program on Sept. 8 to fund traffic and evacuation planning in southern Precinct 4. Why it matters: the application, if funded, would pay for traffic studies, feasibility and environmental analyses and a public engagement process to address evacuation, safety and congestion concerns in several southern‑Precinct 4 corridors. The presenting staff member told the court the application is first‑come, first‑served and that the county is seeking the applicant cap needed for the proposal. The staff presenter said the county sought an estimate from BGDE Inc.; that estimate was $1.7 million and the presenter said the county would request that amount. The grant allows awards up to $2.5 million and—according to the presenter—requires no local match, which the presenter summarized as “0%.” Court members voted to approve submitting the application. The presenter said the work would include traffic and feasibility studies, an environmental constraints analysis and community engagement for portions of Precinct 4 with known evacuation challenges. Ending: Staff were authorized to submit the application and pursue BGDE Inc.’s proposal as the project engineer if the grant is awarded.