Bethel Is Awarded $168,000 Sidewalks Grant from State
By Chris Costanzo

Last week, Bethel town management learned that the Vermont Agency of Transportation has awarded the town a $168,000 transportation enhancement grant to upgrade North Main Street and Church Street to better accommodate pedestrians and bicycles. Such upgrade would include sidewalk and storm drainage repairs as well as accompanying scenic beautification. 

The grant application dates back to last summer when it was discussed at a selectboard meeting on July 10. At that time town manager Dell Cloud noted that the grant would go a long way on both sides of the river to spruce up the approaches to the new Church Street Bridge.

Cloud told The Herald last week that the grant is designed to cover 80% of the town’s projected expenses for the road upgrades. The town is expected to fund 10% of it in cash and another 10% in kind--that is, through labor, materials and other services. Cloud also noted that he does not expect the grant to be available until 2008, so the town’s share of the costs should not have an impact on the new budget to be voted this coming March.

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