Siloam Springs and Lake Wales each received significant RAISE grants from the federal Department of Transportation.
Good planning brings return on investment in a number of ways. But one of them is this: Having a coherent plan can move your infrastructure project to the front of the line for funding. This month, the federal Department of Transportation awarded nearly two billion dollars for several projects through the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) discretionary grant program to invest in improving and repairing critical transportation infrastructure and increasing levels of private sector investment.
Lake Wales, Florida
First Street, Lake Wales, Florida: BEFORE: Conditions c. 2019
First Street, Lake Wales, Florida: AFTER: Street Redesign Proposed by Dover, Kohl & Partners (2019)
The $22,930,000 grant to the City of Lake Wales, which the city is not required to match, will support the redevelopment of First Street, Central Avenue, A Street, and Lincoln Avenue. These projects are a part of our Lake Wales Connected plan, which is an ambitious revitalization plan that encompasses the historic downtown and adjacent Northwest Neighborhood. The goal of the plan is to redesign streets as desirable spaces to be and to create stronger physical and social connections between key destinations in town, including bridging the historic divides between black and white neighborhoods.
Although 148 projects around the country received RAISE grants in this round, federal officials including USDOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg chose Lake Wales as one of just seven recipient cities to spotlight in their public ceremony.
The various street redesigns outlined in Lake Wales Connected include narrowed traffic lanes, enlarged ADA accessible sidewalks, new street trees and canopy, on-street parking, protected bike lanes, and improved safety at crosswalks and railroad crossings. The plan outlines strategies for a more affordable, accessible, safe, and connected transportation network that improves public health and well-being.
Thanks to the RAISE grant, construction on the project is expected to begin much sooner than originally hoped. The Lake Wales City Manager, James Slaton, says that he expects construction of the First Street project to begin this year.
Siloam Springs, Arkansas
The $11,556,363 grant awarded to Siloam Springs is intended to fund improvements along E Main Street between Maxwell Street and Lincoln Street. Safety is a main priority of the Main Street revitalization plan, which the city aims to address by implementing infrastructure improvements such as pavement resurfacing, ADA sidewalks, increasing the number of street trees, bicycle lanes, and, most importantly, replacing the Sager Creek Bridge. The present bridge has meager accommodation for walking and none for biking, but this is to be addressed with the new bridge, realizing a signature idea from the “Downtown & Connectivity Plan” created by DK&P in 2014.
Construction on the project is expected to begin in September of 2025.
New bridge and revitalized downtown, Siloam Springs, Arkansas (DK&P 2014)