Historic Grant to Bring Back Vehicular Traffic to Fulton Mall
FRESNO – The official announcement of the $15.9 million dollars from the U.S. Department of Transportation to bring vehicular traffic back to the Fulton Mall occurred at a celebration on the mall today.
Anthony Foxx, U.S. Transportation Secretary of Transportation
The project on Fulton Mall is just one of 52 across the country to receive a piece of a total of $474 million in TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) grants from the Department of Transportation. The mall, built in 1964, initially welcomed vehicular traffic, but has been closed to automobiles for decades. The plan is to open the mall up to cars, transit, bicyclists and pedestrians.
“I want you to know that today is a new beginning for your central business district,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “Since being selected as part of President Obama’s Strong Cities, Strong Communities initiative you’ve been looking to the future, investing in the building blocks that Fresno needs to succeed in the 21st Century.”
The project’s total cost is $20 million. No City of Fresno General Fund money will be used for the project. The remainder of the funding is expected to come from state and Measure C Transit Oriented Development sources.
“This grant is a significant moment in Fresno’s history,” said Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin. “The message that Secretary Foxx and the federal government are sending to us today is loud and clear: They believe in downtown Fresno, and they believe it will be the vibrant economic center for the entire region. Our opportunity now is to carry this momentum forward to realize that vision.”
