Indianapolis Metropolitan Planning Organization Executive Director Anna Gremling will deliver an oversized check representing $1.79 million in federal funds to Greenfield Mayor Chuck Fewell at 1:30 p.m., June 14 at the Riley Home Museum, 250 W. Main St., to help pay for the Riley Literary Trail multi-use path and 24 school zone flashing beacons.

As part of an annual funding process, Greenfield planners submitted projects for consideration by the Metropolitan Planning Organization, which is responsible for planning and programming federal transportation funds in the eight-county Central Indiana region. Projects are judged based on such criteria as impacts to air quality, improvements to congestion, safety, pavement quality and more.

“It’s always a very competitive process, but Greenfield’s projects rose to the top,” Gremling said “Building and maintaining infrastructure is one of local governments’ biggest challenges, but also critical to the regional and state economies.”

Greenfield was one of 15 communities and agencies in the region selected to receive federal funds.

According to Greenfield’s application, the Riley Literary Trail will start and end at the Pennsy Trail. The multi-use path will connect the Riley Boyhood Home and Museum, retail and commercial businesses, neighborhoods and governmental services. It is intended to spur economic development along the trail, create an easier avenue for local tourism, and connect disconnected cultural districts downtown. Construction will begin in 2023. The total project cost is $2,259,120, with 80 percent – $1,581,384 – of it federal funding through the Metropolitan Planning Organization.

The second funded project will install 24 school zone speed limit flashing beacons. According to the application Greenfield submitted, there will be four at Greenfield Central High School, two at Greenfield Central Junior High School, eight at Greenfield Intermediate/Harris Elementary School, two at JB Stephens Elementary School, seven at Weston Elementary School and one at St. Michael Catholic School. The total project cost is $241,050, with 80 percent -- $217,350 – of it federal funding through the Metropolitan Planning Organization.

About the Metropolitan Planning Organization

Federal law requires each urbanized area with a population of 50,000 or more to have an MPO, and the MPO planning process is required to receive federal funds for transit, transportation alternatives, and roadway improvements. The Indianapolis MPO encompasses 1,520 square miles and includes eight counties and 31 cities and towns.

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MPO MEDIA CONTACT: Jen Schmits Thomas, 317-441-2487, jen@jtprinc.com

GREENFIELD MEDIA CONTACT: Chuck Anderson, 317-477-4300, canderson@greenfieldin.org

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