The city of Searcy has received a $500,000 grant from the Arkansas Department of Transportation through its Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP). Officials said the funds will support the initial phase of a planned shared-use path designed to connect Harding University to downtown Searcy.
The project will involve constructing a 12-foot-wide path along East Center Street. This initial phase will create a route stretching from North Grand Avenue on Harding University’s campus to South Spring Street in the downtown area.
The path will serve pedestrians and cyclists, providing a safer and more accessible way to travel between the university and the city’s core business district. City leaders said the project reflects a broader effort to enhance pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure while fostering stronger connections between key community destinations.
According to officials, the shared-use path will be built in multiple phases. The TAP grant will cover costs for Phase 1, with the remaining sections to be completed as additional funding and development progress become available.
The Transportation Alternatives Program provides federal transportation funding directed by the Arkansas Department of Transportation to support projects that improve non-motorized transportation infrastructure throughout the state.