Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) Commissioner John Schroer today announced a $598,338 transportation enhancement grant to the town of Thompson’s Station for greenways.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam joined state and local officials today to announce the award of a $818,880 transportation enhancement grant to the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development for Phase III of the Civil War Driving Trail.

The Civil War Driving Trail is a multi-phased program that has established a statewide network of directional and historical signage to be used in conjunction with the Tennessee Civil War map/guide and applicable map/guides developed by individual localities.

"This program has created a more easily accessible, user friendly system for travelers to follow as they explore sites and transportation corridors associated with the American Civil War in Tennessee," said Governor Haslam. "It also encourages partnerships between state agencies and local communities. I'm proud the State of Tennessee can make investments like this to enhance local communities for the benefit of citizens and visitors alike."

The grant is made possible through a federally funded program administered by the Tennessee Department of Transportation.

"Through Transportation Enhancement grants, TDOT has funded more than $259 million in non-traditional transportation projects," said TDOT Commissioner John Schroer. "Established by Congress in the early 1990's, the program supports activities designed to strengthen the cultural, aesthetic and environmental aspects of the nation's transportation system."

The Tennessee Civil War Trails program is both a freestanding, statewide program and a part of the existing 700-site, three-state Civil War Trails program which has been developed through similar grant funding. The project will encourage and reward local governments and private sector participants that establish, promote and maintain the program in their areas.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) Commissioner John Schroer joined state and local leaders today to announce the award of a $500,000 transportation enhancement grant to the city of Franklin for the Eastern Flank Battlefield Access Improvement Project.

The Eastern Flank Battlefield Access Improvement Project includes the construction of an access drive from Lewisburg Pike to the Eastern Flank Battlefield property. The project also includes visitor center parking, interpretive trail network, landscaping, bike racks, signage, bio-retention area and other pedestrian amenities.

“Tennessee’s Civil War battlefields are wonderful educational destinations, and they attract thousands of visitors to the state each year,” Haslam said. “It is imperative we preserve these areas and make the necessary improvements to ensure they are accessible to residents and visitors. I’m pleased the state can contribute to those efforts.”

The grant is made possible through a federally funded program administered by TDOT.

“Through Transportation Enhancement grants, TDOT has funded more than $259 million in non-traditional transportation projects,” Schroer said. “Established by Congress in the early 1990’s, the program supports activities designed to strengthen the cultural, aesthetic and environmental aspects of the nation’s transportation system.”

A variety of activities such as the restoration of historic facilities, bike and pedestrian trails, landscaping and other non-traditional transportation projects are eligible for grant funds under the federal program.

State Sen. Jack Johnson (R-Franklin) and state Reps. Glen Casada (R-Franklin), Phillip Johnson (R-Pegram) and Charles Sargent (R-Franklin) represent Williamson County in the Tennessee General Assembly.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Transportation Commissioner John Schroer today released the three-year transportation program, which includes the completion of several major strategic corridor projects, inlcuding completion of SR 840, and the state's Better Bridges bonding program.

The three year program includes $1.7 billion for highways and bridges to fund more than 152 individual project phases in 59 Tennessee counties. The proposal, which has been presented to the Tennessee General Assembly, includes significant highway and bridge projects in TDOT's Region Three.

"A quality transportation system is vital to the continued growth of the state's economy and increasing job opportunities for our residents," said Governor Haslam. "The commissioner and I believe this three-year program balances the needs of communities across the state and makes solid investments in Tennessee's infrastructure."

TDOT's Region Three includes the 26 counties of Bedford, Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Giles, Hickman, Houston, Humphreys, Lawrence, Lewis, Lincoln, Macon, Marshall, Maury, Montgomery, Moore, Perry, Robertson, Rutherford, Smith, Stewart, Sumner, Trousdale, Wayne, Williamson and Wilson counties.

"Taking a multi-modal approach to transportation planning allows TDOT to be responsive to the citizens of this state, tailoring projects to provide the greatest benefits in both our urban and rural areas," said TDOT Commissioner John Schroer. "The department will address a number of needs through this three-year program, including congestion relief, improving access to communities, and the replacement or repair of dozens of aging bridges."

Transportation projects in TDOT's Region 3 will be funded through TDOT's state and federal aid programs.

Several projects to relieve congestion in Nashville and surrounding areas include widening I-65 from Trinity Lane to Dickerson Road, widening I-40 from State Route 171 to State Route 109 in Wilson County, and the preliminary engineering for the reconstruction of the State Route 99 interchange on I-65 in Maury County. In Clarksville, funding will go toward widening a three-mile section of U.S. 41-A.

The remaining projects to widen U.S. through Lawrence County in southern-middle Tennessee and the SR-840 project will also be completed through funding from this three-year program.

In addition to the highway projects listed above, the rehabilitation of the Cordell Hull Bridge in Smith County is funded through TDOT's Better Bridges Program. 24 bridge repair or replacement projects in Region Three in this three-year multimodal program are funded through the final year of the Better Bridges bond program.