Marion’s bike path project will receive federal funds for construction in fiscal year 2019, which is much sooner than anticipated.

“While that may sound far off it really isn’t,” Town Administrator Paul Dawson said on Tuesday night. “It’s good news all around.”

Federal funds earmarked for the path total $3.4 million. Those funds will be used to construct the bike path on a former rail bed from the Mattapoisett town line into Washburn Park.

Dawson said when Town Meeting voters awarded $350,000 for the project's engineering study it showed Massachusetts Department of Transportation officials the town was serious about the bike path.

“That advanced the project in the timeframe,” Dawson said.

Members of the Marion Bike Path Committee will now put the project out to bid so a engineering firm can develop plans. Dawson said those plans must be detailed before any work begins.

“We need to develop a comprehensive scope of work to make sure it complies with all state and federal requirements,” Dawson said.