The city of Marthasville will get almost $240,000 to build and replace sidewalk along Highway D.The Transportation Alternative Program grant provides federal funds, administered by the Missouri Department of Transportation, to expand alternatives to driving.Marthasville will use the funds to construct 1,900 feet of new sidewalk from Marthasville Elementary School east to the city limits. The city also plans to rebuild 1,300 feet of narrow and broken sidewalk from the school to the Marthasville Fire Department.Mayor David Lange said the city will contribute $80,000 to the project.Lange said the city wants to improve safety for students walking to or from school. "Some of them walk through the ditch, some of them walk on the highway. It’s a major safety issue,” Lange said.Lange thanked all of the residents and local entities that wrote to MoDOT in support of the project, including the school, local law enforcement and the Chamber of Commerce.Planning for the project is expected to be done in 2017 with construction beginning in fall 2017 or spring 2018, according to a letter from MoDOT to the city. The city will need to select an engineer for the project.

Students walk along Highway D in Marthasville while vehicles move around them. The city has been approved for a grant to build a sidewalk along the south side of the road. Submitted photo.