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College Boulevard is one step closer to having safer walking, running and biking where it meets Forest Road.ย 

Okaloosa County Commissioners approved $550,000 for an administration, traffic study and a design of the potential improvements – which will be paid for by half-cent surtax money.ย 

โ€œWe want to make sure that we put [the multi-use path] in the right place so all of the residents, the students and all those who have reached out to us [get what they want],โ€ said Okaloosa County Public Works Director Jason Autrey.ย 

The project, which is estimated to cost around $3.7M, will have help from the state. $1.5M of state legislature-approved money will help complete the project, thanks to State Representative Patt Maney.

โ€œWeโ€™ve been fortunate that we are able to take this money and leverage it,โ€ Autrey added.ย 

After architects design the plans for the multi-use pathway – Okaloosa Countyโ€™s Public Works Department will seek the rest of the money it needs to construct the pathway.ย 

The Niceville/Bluewater Bay/Valparaiso area has a total of two of the countyโ€™s 21 underway infrastructure surtax projects.ย 

Jason Autrey (Right) - Okaloosa County Public Works Director

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How Much Surtax Money Currently Comes Into Our Area?

The project increases the total allocation specifically for the Mid Bay area by a third.ย 

Currently, the county and contractors are working on sidewalk improvements at the Redwood Avenue and John Sims Parkway intersection. The County has allocated $1.35M to the project.ย 

In Bluwater Bay, the county put aside $200,000 for stormwater improvements in the Municipal Services Benefit Unit.ย 

RELATED: Stormwater Might Drown Bluewater Bay โ€“ Bluewater United Has A Plan to Avoid Future Flooding.

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