Crawfordsville Mayor Todd Barton announced Friday that the city is applying for a grant that would lead to resolving the CSX Market Street crossing traffic delays.
The city is applying to the Federal Railroad Administration, and if approved, will finance the process of fixing the problem that has plagued motorists for decades. The announcement came during the Crawfordsville/Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce sponsored City-County Legislative Lunch.
Barton said the city has previously applied for the grant, but was denied. He believes this application is better and is data driven.
“I really feel good about our chances this time,” Barton said. “We have done a better job of describing the impact the blocked crossing has on the city, residents, emergency vehicles, pedestrians and more.”
The application will be reviewed by the FRA within a few months.
Barton was part of a four-person panel that also include Montgomery County Commissioner Dan Guard, Crawfordsville City Council President Andy Biddle and Montgomery County Councilman Jake Bohlander.
Barton spent the majority of his time discussing all the activities going on around the city. He said the city, along with the county, is busy with several projects.
Barton said the housing needs and employee shortage is being addressed through several projects.
The mayor also discussed a change at the local Ivy Tech site. The college only needs about one-half of the space in the building. The city has agreed to use the other half for the Crawfordsville Career Academy. The school will work hand-in-hand with the three county school corporations to provide opportunity for high school students wanting to learn about a trade or job.
Barton announced the Ben Hur building project is progressing. The building is going to be apartments and the project should be concluded within two months.
The mayor spent time talking economic development and that the cooperation with the county is at a high level.
Biddle echoed the mayor and told attendees that the mayor is a good leader and he does a good job of communication to the council members.
Guard went through projects that are progressing now within the county and how cooperation with the city is a key to recent success.
“The city and county working together for the last two years has been outstanding,” Guard said.
Bohlander discussed the ways the county is funding certain projects that are in process.
