Quick answer: The Village of Brooklyn has announced its Safe Routes to School non-motorized pathway will enter construction in early 2027. The $1.9 million, 3.1-mile trail will connect Columbia elementary schools to Columbia Central Jr./Sr. High School, linking the township and village with a dedicated walk/bike route — expected complete by early September 2027.
How this article labels facts: statements marked FACT: were verified in the source article above. Statements marked COMMENTARY: are editorial analysis, context, or opinion.
FACT: The funding package is mostly federal and state dollars
FACT: MDOT recently confirmed $1,436,216 in federal funding toward the $1.9 million project. FACT: An additional $450,000 in state funding was secured by the Village of Brooklyn and State Senator Sue Shink, with local funding coming from the Village of Brooklyn and Columbia Charter Township. FACT: An extra $18,525 grant was also awarded for youth programming on the trail after its completion.
FACT: The construction timeline and route
FACT: Tree removal is expected during the winter months of 2027 to avoid disturbing federal and state protected species, with removal completed by mid-April. FACT: Work inside the Village at Main Street and near the elementary schools starts after the school year ends in June. FACT: The overall project is estimated finished by early September 2027. FACT: The Jackson County Department of Transportation is overseeing engineering and construction of the 3.1-mile project. FACT: The planned route runs along Broad, Monroe, Chicago, King and Tiffany streets within the Village, to Cement City Highway and Turk Road within the Township, and onto school property at Columbia Central Jr./Sr. High School. FACT: At its last meeting, the Columbia Township Board of Trustees approved the partnership maintenance agreement with the school district and the Village.
COMMENTARY: This is exactly how small-town infrastructure wins get built
COMMENTARY: A 3.1-mile trail connecting elementary schools to a high school won’t make national headlines — and that’s precisely why it matters. This is the kind of layered funding stack (federal SRTS dollars, state appropriation championed by a senator, local municipal match) that keeps rural Jackson County moving forward while big-city projects eat the spotlight. COMMENTARY: The maintenance agreement between the township, village, and school district is the quiet hero of this story: trails die from neglect, not from bad construction. Village President Stella Roberts framing it as a downtown walkability play is smart local politics — safe school routes double as an economic corridor for Main Street businesses.
FAQ
When does construction start on the Brooklyn Safe Routes to School trail?
FACT: Construction enters its construction phase at the beginning of 2027, with tree removal over the winter months and village work starting after the school year ends in June.
How much does the project cost and who is paying?
FACT: The project totals $1.9 million: $1,436,216 in federal MDOT funding, $450,000 in state funding secured with State Senator Sue Shink’s involvement, and local funds from the Village of Brooklyn and Columbia Charter Township.
Where exactly will the trail run?
FACT: Along Broad, Monroe, Chicago, King and Tiffany streets in the Village of Brooklyn, to Cement City Highway and Turk Road in the township, and onto school property at Columbia Central Jr./Sr. High School.
When will the trail be finished?
FACT: The overall project is currently estimated to be completed by early September 2027, in time for the new school year.
Source: 95.9 The Power Cow (WKHM).
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