HOULTON, Maine — The town has secured additional federal grant money for an upcoming sidewalk replacement project, but it comes with a slightly increased local cost.
Nancy Ketch, Houlton’s economic and community development director, informed the Houlton Town Council Monday, Nov. 27, that the town could secure an additional $100,000 in federal funds under the Americans With Disabilities Act, which would bring the total amount of grant funds for the project to $625,000.
The caveat in receiving that additional federal money, however, is that the town must now kick in a local match $125,000 for the project, instead of the original amount of $100,000. Those funds will come from the town’s Downtown TIF (Tax Increment Finance) account, so no additional money will need to be raised for the project.
The town has about $165,000 in its Downtown TIF account, which can be used for renovation projects in Market Square and the surrounding downtown area. Councilors unanimously approved the additional amount during the Nov. 27 meeting.
“We were approached by a representative from the Maine Department of Transportation about our sidewalk project after they discovered there were some additional federal funds available that were specific to the project complying with the ADA,” Ketch explained. “They felt this project was a good fit.”
Back in August, 2016, the town learned it was the recipient of a $400,000 grant from the Maine Department of Transportation for the sidewalk project.
The scope of the project includes reconstruction of sidewalks in Houlton’s business district, including Main Street from Court and Water streets on the west side to Broadway and Powers Avenue on the east. It also includes the sidewalks around Market Square, the center islands and the stairway on the west end of the square next to the former Town and Country Clothing business.
The brick portion of the sidewalks, which were installed about 25 years ago, have aged poorly, Ketch said. Residents also have complained that the brick surface was more slippery than the asphalt, particularly in the winter.
To correct this issue, the town plans to install stamped asphalt that is colored and shaped to appear like the current brick pattern. In so doing, the hope is it will retain some of the charm of the existing bricks, while being more functional, Ketch said.
Construction is not expected to begin until the summer of 2019, but that date could be pushed to 2020, Ketch said. If enough money remains, the project will be expanded to Broadway and Water Street.
