ANNAPOLIS, MD – Governor Wes Moore today announced $16 million in grants for bicycle, pedestrian and trail projects across Maryland. The funding will support efforts to improve safety for all road users, strengthen the state's intermodal transportation system and help reduce transportation emissions.
“This investment proves that we don't have to choose between boosting our outdoor economy, investing in transportation projects, and cutting emissions – we can address all of these goals at the same time," said Gov. Moore. “In partnership with local leaders, we are building a more competitive and sustainable state from Mountain Maryland to the Eastern Shore."
The grants will benefit 36 projects, from the retrofitting of a trail-highway crossing to new bike paths and pedestrian improvements in school zones, including $13.9 million in federal funding awarded to 26 projects through the Transportation Alternatives Program and the Recreational Trails Program and $2.1 million in state funding for 10 projects through the Maryland Department of Transportation's Kim Lamphier Bikeways Network Program.
“Funding projects to enhance mobility and accessibility is a priority as these assets are an integral part of the state's transportation system to provide safe, equitable and sustainable connections for pedestrians and bicyclists," said Maryland Department of Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld. “These investments will help provide high-quality paths to connect communities, enhance safety for students to get to and from school and help the state reach its climate goals by reducing greenhouse gas emissions."
The Transportation Alternatives Program and Recreational Trails Program are federally funded discretionary grant programs for community projects designed to support bike and pedestrian infrastructure. The Maryland State Highway Administration solicited applications for both programs and worked with regional committees and planning organizations to review and select projects. This year's awards include:
- $1 million through the Recreational Trails Program to nine projects, including:
- A bridge restoration in Kent County;
- Trail improvements in Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Caroline County and the campus of Mount St. Mary's University;
- Wayfinding improvements in the City of Frederick; and
- A mountain bike trail in Garrett County.
- $13 million from the Transportation Alternatives Program, including:
- Nearly $630,000 for “Safe Routes to Schools" projects in the cities of Baltimore, Brunswick and Havre de Grace;
- Nearly $1.1 million for a 1.25-mile extension of the St. Michaels Nature Trail;
- $1.5 million to complete design of a shared-use path along MD 611 in Worcester County; and
- $1.7 million to convert a half-mile of roadway that intersects with the Purple Line into a multimodal corridor connecting to the University of Maryland Campus in College Park.
The Maryland Department of Transportation's Kim Lamphier Bikeways Network Program received unprecedented interest during this funding cycle from local jurisdictions seeking to design and construct safe bicycle facilities. This year's grants totaling $2.1 million include:
- $1.7 million for design projects in Baltimore City and Anne Arundel, Cecil, Charles and Prince George's counties; the Cecil County project will allow the Town of North East to design their first-ever bicycle facilities;
- $75,000 for a retrofit of a Levee Trail crossing in Mount Rainier in Prince George's County to improve safety where the trail crosses a busy roadway;
- $625,755 to match federal funding for construction and design projects in Anne Arundel, Talbot and Worcester counties. In Talbot County, the funding will support construction of a nature trail bypassing a state highway in St. Michaels.
In June, Secretary Wiedefeld signed a new department-wide Complete Streets Policy that will help enhance safety for all road users by adding safety features such as bike lanes and pedestrian crossings in projects across the state. The Complete Streets Policy will ensure the Maryland Department of Transportation's multi-billion-dollar capital program funds a transportation system that is safe, accessible and sustainable for Marylanders across all modes.
The grant awards are dedicated not only to making improvements to local infrastructure, but also support of the state's sustainability and highway safety goals. In July, the Maryland Department of Transportation announced $11.2 million in federal funding awarded to local governments through the Carbon Reduction Program, which funds projects designed to reduce transportation emissions.
A complete list of grant-funded projects for each program is available on each program's website:
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