TUSCULUM – Pedestrians will benefit from safety enhancements coming to key locations to Tusculum University as well as to a prominent area adjacent to campus and places where the Tusculum Linear Trail crosses roads.
Dr. Scott Hummel, left, and Mayor Alan Corley stand in the crosswalk near Virginia Hall and Annie Hogan Byrd Fine Arts Center.
The City of Tusculum has received a $1 million community development block grant from the State of Tennessee that is expected to fund sidewalks, landscaping, alert signals and potential additional roadway lighting. The $1 million from the Department of Economic and Community Development will be matched by $234,568 from the city.
“We are delighted to receive this grant and to work with our partners at the university and the state to accomplish these important safety measures,” said Alan Corley, the City of Tusculum’s mayor. “This work will have a positive effect on the university and our linear trail, which are major drivers of our community’s success and quality of life. We are grateful to the state for recognizing the value of these improvements and look forward to completing this project.”
Specifically, the grant is expected to fund:
- A sidewalk on the beach volleyball court side of Shiloh Road from the outdoor basketball courts near Pioneer Way to Annie Hogan Byrd Fine Arts Center
- A sidewalk on the university side of the Erwin Highway from the Tusculum Arch to the city limits at the bridge over College Creek
- A sidewalk on the Doak Elementary School side of Sam Doak Drive from the school to the Whistle Stop restaurant on the Erwin Highway
- Additional safety features for the three crosswalks on Shiloh, the three crosswalks on the Erwin Highway and the crossing on Sam Doak Drive, all of which primarily serve university pedestrians or users of the trail
- Landscaping to encourage pedestrian use of the crosswalks, particularly at the university
The grant also might fund additional lighting near the road crossings to improve visibility of pedestrians at night.
Student Noemie Tartrou crosses Shiloh Road near Virginia Hall and Annie Hogan Byrd Fine Arts Center.
Mayor Alan Corley, left, and Dr. Scott Hummel stand in the area along Shiloh Road where a new sidewalk is expected to be built.
Dr. Scott Hummel, the university’s president, is pleased the city was able to secure this grant and commended Corley for his leadership on this initiative. Corley serves as a member of the university’s Board of Trustees and has a keen understanding of the higher education institution’s needs.
“Tusculum University is a pedestrian-focused institution, and our students, faculty and staff regularly cross these roads on their way to classes and offices,” Dr. Hummel said. “Their safety is uppermost on our minds, and we appreciate the city and the state for being supportive by undertaking this project. We are excited to see the work on this initiative progressing and are eager to see the finished product.”
The work this grant is funding is the latest step for increasing pedestrian safety on campus. A few years ago, sidewalks were added on both sides of Shiloh by the Scott M. Niswonger Commons and the Nichols Tennis Complex. Dr. Hummel said that project provided additional safety for the Tusculum family in a section of the road that features a hill and a curve.
The university is located within the corporate limits of the City of Tusculum but is assigned a Greeneville mailing address.
More information on the grant and the work covered by it is available by contacting the City of Tusculum at 423-638-6211. To learn more about the city, please visit https://tusculumcity.org/. More information about the university is available at www.tusculum.edu.