2026 1 12 Work Session PACKET

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PUBLIC WORKS 
 
TO:  Randall Dowling, City Manager 
FROM:  Kevin L. Helms, Project Manager 
Cc:  Ben Burchfield, Public Works Director 
DATE:  January 5, 2026 
SUBJECT: Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Grant Program 
Background 
During 2024 the City of Athens applied for and received a grant from the Federal Highway Administration 
(FHWA) through the Safe Streets for All (SS4A) Grant Program  to develop a Traffic Safety Action Plan 
designed to eliminate serious injuries and fatalities resulting from traffic accidents on the city’s roadways. 
Upon completion of the plan in 2025, the City applied for another SS4A Grant to implement 
recommendations associated with the Congress Parkway and Deca tur Pike intersection and adjoining 
corridor. In December 2025 the city was notified that the grant application was not funded. 
 
While the final project scope is yet to be determined, it will be a  large project containing at a minimum 
the following components: 
• Traffic signal replacement 
• Increased turn lane vehicle storage capacity 
• Offset alignment for left turn lanes for enhanced visibility 
• Addition of pedestrian infrastructure 
• Traffic signal preemption for emergency vehicles 
• Synchronized timing of traffic signals with time-of-day plans 
 
The project cost is estimated to be $3,730,000 making acquisition of grant funding a critical part of 
implementing improvements at this location , which was prioritized near the top of all locations studied 
within the Traffic Safety Action Plan.  Due to the type and location of project , grant funding can be 
requested for up to 100% of the total cost for the project.   
 
Action Item 
Approve Resolution 2026-03 authorizing the city to submit  a BUILD Grant application for funding in the 
amount of $3,730,000 to implement improvements at Congress Parkway and Decatur Pike.