Athens may take the next step Monday in a plan to improve safety and appearance of the downtown Square.

City Council members will vote during their regular meeting Monday on whether to issue a work order to Morell Engineering Inc. of Athens for preconstruction engineering and design services for the Courthouse Square Landscape Project. The proposed engineering services would not exceed $43,150 and would be funded from the city’s general fund, records show.

A year ago, the city applied for and received a federally funded TAP grant through the Alabama Department of Transportation to improve The Square, said Athens Public Works Director James Rich. TAP grants are used for projects such as bicycle trails, “streetscaping” and improvements like the conversion of the railroad depot into the Limestone County Archives, he said.

If the council agrees, Morell would plan the landscaping, the lighting installation and the upgrading of the electrical and water systems around the courthouse in order to improve events like the annual Grease Festival, Storytelling Festival and others, Rich said.

The city has already extended curbs (bulb-outs), changed crosswalk locations, and added ramps, parking spaces and other improvements to make the downtown safer for pedestrians, including those with disabilities. By reclaiming asphalt around The Square, the city created more space for plants and trees along the sidewalks as well as for lamp lighting. The city plans to use 1920s replica lampposts in its design.

The total budget for the project — excluding the preconstruction, engineering and design services proposed by Morell — is about $488,750. Of that, $391,000 will be paid by the TAP grant, Rich said. The grant requires a match, including $52,750 paid by the city in fiscal 2015 and two contributions of $15,000 each from Athens Rotary Club. In addition, Athens-Limestone County Tourism and The Spirit of Athens will give a total of $45,000, he said.