MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) – Mayor Spiro Cheriogotis’ dreams of transforming Water Street into a pedestrian paradise will have to wait another year.
The federal government last month turned down the city’s application for a grant under a U.S. Department of Transportation program known as Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development, or BUILD. Cheriogotis has proposed narrowing Water Street and reducing traffic speeds to make it more pedestrian-friendly. It is part of a larger goal to make Mobile’s waterfront more accessible. The city sought $25 million from the grant.
“Disappointing, but probably expected,” the mayor told FOX10 News.
Cheriogotis said he had a meeting scheduled later Wednesday to discuss Water Street. He said he knew going into the grant application process that it was a highly competitive program. He cited positive feedback from the Department of Transportation…