The Athens-Clarke County Commission is finalizing the TSPLOST 2026 project list, and the Greenway might be on there. Here’s an update on where we stand with Greenway funding and TSPLOST as of early January:
Greenway Petition Resonates with Elected Officials
In early December, Friends of the Greenway presented the petition signed by 600 supporters, directly quoting many signers about what the Greenway means to them, and urging elected officials to reconsider trail funding as they finalized the TSPLOST 2026 project list.
This petition resonated with elected officials, for later during the December 16 agenda-setting meeting, Commissioners Davenport, Link, Myers and Mayor Girtz all spoke about the need to reconsider Greenway funding with this next TSPLOST, and pledged to work on the final project list over the holidays.
Commission postpones vote on final TSPLOST list
The Mayor and Commission were scheduled to vote on the final list of projects on January 6, and several people along with Friends of the Greenway and the Greenway Commission came out to speak in favor of Greenway Funding on TSPLOST. Speakers talked about the grand vision of the Greenway Network Plan, a need for safe places for their families to ride, the desire to begin the Middle Oconee Greenway and have Greenway on the west side of Athens, and the general wish to continue the momentum of trail building.
The Commission ultimately chose to postpone the vote until January 20. (Commissioners did vote to extend TSPLOST 2026 from a five year to a six year program, which makes additional funds available.)
Davenport says the Greenway is on the new list
During the January 6 meeting, Commissioner Davenport– who is spearheading the effort to update and finalize the TSPLOST 2026 list of projects– indicated he had a list that included Greenway funding. However Davenport’s colleagues on the Commission have neither seen nor weighed in on this list, which makes targeted outreach challenging.
How to ensure Greenway funding ends up on the final TSPLOST project list
The Friends of the Greenway are meeting January 13 to develop a strategy as we enter the final stretch of our campaign to secure future funding for the Middle Oconee River Greenway.
It is likely we will again ask supporters to speak at the January 20 Mayor and Commission meeting in favor of the Greenway, when elected officials must decide on the list of transportation projects to ensure that TSPLOST 2026 is on the ballot for Athens-Clarke County voters in May.
For questions, email us. You can view the original 10 for Trails TSPLOST Funding page here.