FARMINGTON — The town’s request for a sidewalk project funded with federal transportation assistance through the Maine Department of Transportation has been approved for future design/construction funding once funding becomes available.

Selectmen unanimously accepted the federal grant Tuesday and approved matching funds from the town’s sidewalk reserve account.

The project would create a sidewalk on the Farmington Falls Road, from Maple Avenue down and across the front of the Hippach Field on Main Street to Prescott Street, Town Manager Richard Davis explained.

The DOT previously looked at this and thought the project was much needed and viable, Davis said.

The town expects $103,508 in federal funds, leaving a local match of 20 percent, or $25,877, he said, adding that there is more than $28,000 in the sidewalk reserve account.

Sarah Martin worked on the grant application and initially came before the board expressing a need for the sidewalk, Davis said. He thanked her for her efforts.

“Due to severe federal reductions in funding for the bicycle and pedestrian projects in Maine, Maine DOT  was not able to put any projects, including Farmington’s, from the 2012 applications into current budgets,” MDOT program manager Dan Stewart wrote in a letter to Davis.

While Farmington indicated an intention to provide a local cash match, “the match must be in place before it will be considered for future design and/or construction funding,” Stewart added.

With the match in place, the town immediately becomes eligible for federal funding through Maine Department of Transportation programs and other grant programs, he wrote.

Projects for the year 2016 are expected to be announced in 2014, Stewart wrote.

He indicated that the MDOT will let the town know when funding is included in a future budget for the project.

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