MISSION, Ore.-The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation will soon break ground on two walkways for students and the community.
The $1.5 million project near the Nixyáawii Governance Center consists of a Safe Routes to School Path sidewalk and a Community Paths trail, according to a CTUIR press release on the project.
“This is one piece of the puzzle to make the Umatilla Indian Reservation safer for travelers who don’t have personal vehicles,” said Dani Schulte, CTUIR Transportation Planner.
The two walkways will cover approximately 1,700 linear feet while adding wheelchair accessible ramps and lighting, according to the CTUIR.
Crosswalks will be clearly marked at three of the four corners of the Mission and South Market roads intersection, while the unmarked crosswalk will be on the intersection’s northwest corner where there are no residences or businesses.
“The Tribal Planning Office conducted outreach prior to submitting Oregon Department of Transportation grant applications in 2020, and the four-corners intersection was identified as a location that needs attention,” Schulte said.
According to the CTUIR, grants from the Oregon Department of Transportation covered $1.44 million of the path project costs and the CTUIR is allocating the remaining $65,000 from its Capital Improvement Fund.
Construction on the two paths is scheduled to start in April and should last about two months.
