Serena Portugal has lived in Santa Maria for three years.

She has three daughters in the school district, and said getting them to school safely can be a risk.

“The roads are narrow, there's no safe place for them to walk,” Portugal said.

Portugal’s daughters used to take the bus, but because they had to walk part of the way to get to the pickup spot, Portugal now drives them every day.

However, a $4.5 million grant awarded by the Texas Department of Transportation could change that.

As part of TxDOT’s 2025 Transportation Alternatives Program, 11 streets in Santa Maria will receive sidewalks.

According to a news release, 1.7 miles of 5-foot sidewalks will be constructed along various roadways. The project will also install curb and gutter, curb ramps, crosswalks, rectangular rapid fl

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