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The village streetscaping project called Pathways, once ranked the lowest priority on a list of similar projects in La Crosse County, caught the eye of state transportation officials, winning it a green light and $536,000 in reimbursements.
That figure represents 80 percent of the project’s $670,000 price tag. The announcement by Gov. Jim Doyle’s office makes West Salem one of three La Crosse County communities to receive funding through Transporta-tion Enhancements or Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities Program.
In 2006, when Pathways was submitted for the biannually awarded funds, it came in third among eight projects. Earlier this year, the La Crosse Area Planning Committee placed it sixth out of six proposals.
“I was pretty disappointed at the local level when our ranking was low, but I always had a good feeling about it,” said Sharon Fuller, chairwoman of the village’s economic advisory committee. “The committee worked very hard to keep the plan realistic. It’s a great project. Whenever I kept rereading it, I knew that it felt right.”
Fuller also is a member and former officer of the Village People, a nonprofit group in West Salem with a mission of community improvement and focus on the downtown. The Village People gained the endorsement of the village of West Salem to help pursue the grant with the hopes that it would help with the long-term goal of a revitalized downtown area.
Other La Crosse County communities to tap into the $17 million in state-authorized federal funding were the city of La Crosse, which received funding for two projects, and Onalaska.
West Salem’s Pathways will add green spaces such as sitting and gathering areas, decorative street lights, bike lanes, pedestrian walkways, bicycle racks, colored pavers, trees, flowers and benches.
The net effect, Fuller said, will be improved aesthetics and business opportunities for West Salem.
Improvements will be made to Leonard Street from Elm Street to Garland Street and along Mill Street to Hamilton Street. Memorial Drive, the blocks of Hamilton and Elm streets between Leonard and Mill streets also are included.
Village officials say the project will provide much-needed improvements.
“The project involves south Mill Street and Memorial Drive — those two street projects have been in need of attention for quite some time,” Village Administrator Teresa Schnitzler said. “We’re looking forward to the improvements on these streets.”
