MATTAPOISETT — The town has applied for a $300,000 state grant for a bike path extension, though a number of questions about the proposed project remain to be answered. 

Town Administrator Michael Lorenco said at a July 20 Planning Board meeting that Highway Surveyor Barry Denham applied for the grant to run a 5 foot sidewalk and 3 foot berm from the Mattapoisett Neck Road bike path to Route 6.

Lorenco said the state announced an opportunity to apply for its Department of Transportation Shared Streets and Spaces Grant for about about a month ago. 

The Town Administrator and Denham hope that if they get the grant they could work with the Department of Transportation on a crosswalk across Route 6, in part to allow students to bike to school. 

Board member Nathan Ketchel asked if school handbooks allowed for children to bring bicycles. Lorenco said at the time they do not, but he would bring the policy up to school administrators if the path is approved. 

Lorenco was not entirely sure how much land would need to be taken or how many trees cleared to build the path. The town is still in a preliminary phase with the project but wanted to take advantage of the funding while it was available. 

Timberledge Lane residents Dick and Sharon Grahn echoed board member concerns about safety in the area, and said his neighbors understand that the sidewalk may require giving up land if it goes ahead, but are fine with that in the interest of increasing safety.