Tallulah Falls advances Rails to Trails grant and a connected Public Safety Corridor project

In January 2025 the Downtown Development Authority voted unanimously to recommend accepting a GDOT Transportation Alternatives grant for the Rails to Trails/River Street project. The grant is an 80/20 match, with the town and DDA putting up $70,000; GDOT holds the funds rather than disbursing them directly to the town.

The following month, council took up a GDOT indemnification agreement tied to the grant, and the packet noted a separate Public Safety Corridor is planned within town that will connect to the trail corridor.

Through the spring, council discussed the Public Safety Corridor design project, estimated to cost between $750,000 and $1 million and covering a roundabout, sidewalks, culvert upgrades and paving. Conceptual design plans for the corridor were presented for public review in May.

Council approved up to $65,000 from Public Safety Funds in July for a River Street storm pipe replacement tied to the corridor project, then in September approved a bid of $73,720 (up to $75,000) to award the work to a contractor.

In November 2025 council approved $5,000 from Public Safety Funds for a survey of the corridor's bridge area. By May 2026, a councilperson was proposing directing roughly $78,000 in remaining SPLOST 6 funds toward the bridge work to bring it closer to a biddable amount, a step council had discussed but not yet voted on.