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Cherokee Nation wins just over $10 million FTA grant for new Tahlequah transit facility; multiple water and road projects underway
Summary
Michael Lynn told the Community Services Committee the tribe received just over $10 million from the Federal Transit Administration to build a transit operations facility in the Tahlequah industrial park; he also updated the committee on water, sewer and road rehabilitation projects and a new sidewalk project that will include commemorative seals.
The Cherokee Nation Community Services Committee was told Tuesday that the tribe has been awarded just over $10,000,000 from the Federal Transit Administration to build a transit operations facility in the Tahlequah industrial park, Michael Lynn, Department of Transportation and Infrastructure director, said.
"We were recently awarded a, 10,000,000, just a just a little over $10,000,000 grant from the Federal Transit Administration to build a, transit facility, transit operations facility here in Tahlequah," Lynn said. He said the planned facility will be owned by the tribe and leased back to the local transit operator so vehicles and dispatch operations will have a secure, permanent location.
Lynn also gave committee members a wide infrastructure update. He said work began on rehabilitation of the Kenwood wastewater lagoons and that the rural water district 11 treatment plant in Cherokee County should be completed within 60–90 days. He reported sanitary‑sewer work is underway in the Whitmore Addition adjacent to the recently completed Indian Meadows project and that a Red Barn Road overlay (about 8½–9 miles) has been awarded and will begin soon.
On transportation, Lynn said crews are repairing ditch erosion on Mud Valley Road after fall flooding and that the 14 Mile Creek bridge project north of Tahlequah is progressing. He also described a multi‑phase sidewalk and pathway project on U.S. 62: phase 1 — from the Casey's area across from the casino south to Willis Road — has been awarded and is slated to break ground on the 18th of this month. The project will embed 12 bronze seals every 100 feet, including the Cherokee Nation seal and seals recognizing several named tribal acts, Lynn said.
Council members praised the transit grant and the sidewalk design as measures that will improve security and walkability and commemorate tribal initiatives. No formal action on the transit facility or sidewalk was taken at the meeting; Lynn presented the updates as information for the committee.
