The Fairfield Bikeway & Walkway plan can now move forward, as the Fairfield City Council voted to approve the plan Monday. Councilman Jim Rubis explained to the council that if they wanted to receive assistance from the "Safe Routes to Schools" federal grant program, they would need to move forward with the plan so they may begin the grant application process. Rubis said the "Safe Routes to Schools" plan would provide good funding for the project, and possibly provide complete project funding over the five-year funding period.

With plan approval, Rubis also asked the council to authorize the grant application for the first phase of the project. The first phase entails creating a shared eight-foot bicycle/pedestrian sidewalk on B Street from Stone to Water Works Park Road, as well as beginning education and information on the entire project, and signage postings. The council also gave approval authorizing the grant application process to begin.

A team of five University of Iowa graduate students developed the Fairfield Bikeway & Walkway plan that responds to Fairfield¹s 10-year strategic plan to connect neighborhoods, schools, parks and recreational facilities through bicycle routes, trails and walking paths, tying into the Jefferson County Trails System. These students included Adam Galluzzo, Jeff Banks, Dan Nelson, Jeff Wiggins, and Justin Wyse.