City of Blue Ridge Unveils Streetscape Phase II

Community, Featured Stories

On Tuesday, July 24th, the City of Blue Ridge unveiled the second phase of its city Streetscape project.Tuesday morning, Georgia Speaker of the House David Ralston, City of Blue Ridge Mayor Donna Whitener, and President of the Fannin County Chamber of Commerce Jan Hackett, all helped unveil the second phase of the City’s Streetscape project to the community of Blue Ridge.

The project is the second of two transportation enhancement projects that the city organized through the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) in order to make the downtown business community more appealing to both city employees and merchants. The first phase of the project was completed in 2009 and included work at East Main Street between Church Street and Depot Street.

The second phase of the project, approved by City Council in 2012, includes both sidewalk and intersection improvements such as street lamps and street furniture at the intersection located at the City’s Depot and West Main Street. The intersection improvements were done by Johnson Landscape Company.

Joy Still, Project Manager for the City’s Streetscape Project, told FYN that the project was started in 2005 when she applied the city for a federally funded project that funnels funds through the Georgia Department of Transportation from the federal gas tax in order to help cities pay for transportation enhancement projects through a federal transportation bill. Still said that all cities can apply for the funding but they have to have a local match whereas the GDOT will pay for 80 percent of the project and the city will pay for 20 percent.

According to Alicia Stewart, the City’s Finance Director, total expenditures for Streetscape Phase II were $450,581.28 and the federal share was reported as $350,000. However, Stewart said the project is not closed out and final funding from the GDOT is not complete.

Georgia Speaker of the House David Ralston said when unveiling the project that he is proud to be a part of the downtown business community and wishes to thank the City of Blue Ridge, the Fannin County Chamber of Commerce, the GDOT, and everyone else that participated in the project.

“It’s a special project for a special purpose,”

said Ralston.

For pictures of Georgia Speaker of the House David Ralston, City of Blue Ridge Mayor Donna Whitener, and President of the Fannin County Chamber of Commerce Jan Hackett presenting Streetscape II to the City of Blue Ridge, please view the slideshow below.

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