Ruston receives a 17-million dollar federal transportation grant to transform the city’s connection with Louisiana Tech. Mayor Ronny Walker says the money will go towards building seamless transition of streets, bike paths, and walkways leading from downtown Ruston to the Tech campus.
“When we finish the grant work you really will not be able to tell when you walk from downtown to the campus. It will take you from the center of campus to the center of downtown all in a seamless move,” said Walker.
Walker says the grant is an essential piece for Ruston’s long-term goal to be one of the most innovate communities in the region.
Part of the money will go towards installing a high tech sensor array throughout the area that Walker says will become a testbed for other smart city projects.
“They will be embedding sensors into the roadbed so we can monitor things, everything from is this parking spot available to all kinds of other things,” says Walker.
Walker says they aren’t sure when they’re going to get the money, but once it is received, it should take about three years before the project is complete.
“This is the largest grant this city has ever received, so we are working through it, trying to get all the details worked out,” says Walker.
Walker says 895 cities applied for the grant. Ruston was one of 92 cities that were ultimately awarded.
