SALISBURY – All the pieces to the puzzle of funding the city’s bike route project are coming together as the Salisbury City Council approved additional state funding this week to design and install additional routes.
According to Public Works Director Mike Moulds, Public Works applied for a grant last year from the Maryland Bikeways Program. The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) approved the grant worth $50,000 for the Salisbury Bike Route – Wayfinding and Safety Enhancements Project.
A Resolution came before the City Council on Monday evening to allow Mayor Jim Ireton to sign a grant agreement and accept $50,000 from the MDOT Bikeways Program.
The Office of Planning and Capital Programming of the MDOT prepared the Grant Agreement. The Scope of Work identified within the Grant Agreement includes the design of a pavement marking plan for three bicycle routes — Orange Route, Red Route and Salisbury Urban Greenway.
It also outlines the installation of bicycle pavement markings for the three bicycle routes, the installation of three bicycle racks at the Downtown Plaza, Salisbury Zoological Park and Salisbury Park and construction and installation of four information kiosks in the Downtown, Peninsula Regional Medical Center, Salisbury University and Salisbury Park.
According to the Resolution, the MDOT has a Maryland Bikeways Program for making pedestrian-and-bicycle-facilities improvements and is providing grant funds to the city for use in specific areas.
MDOT and the city have been working together to improve bicycle connectivity between the Downtown Central Business District and Salisbury University. The city will coordinate the installation of pavement markings, signage, bike racks, and kiosks for the bike routes.
“The project will enhance bicycle safety and access to the Maryland Blue Crab Scenic Byway and will improve bicycle circulation in Downtown Salisbury and the vicinity of Salisbury University,” the resolution states.
Without discussion, the council voted 3-1 to approve the resolution with Councilwoman Laura Mitchell opposed and Councilwoman Shanie Shields absent.
In May 2013, the initial funding phase began when the City Council approved the first MDOT Bikeways Program grant in the amount of $13,750 to fund the initial two miles of pavement marking and signage necessary to create the “Spine” bike route from Downtown Salisbury to Salisbury University. The total cost of the project is $25,000.
The bicycle facilities improvements to be constructed using this grant included the creation of a bike route from the intersection of Camden Ave. and West College Ave. to North Division St. near the Government Office Building, providing dedicated bicycle-only lanes and shared bicycle and motorized vehicle lanes, lane striping for dedicated lanes, shared lane markings for shared lanes, bicycle markings on the pavement, and bike route signage along the route.
The city agreed to provide 45 percent of the project costs in matching funds, including private contribution and/or services of actual project costs, in amount not to exceed $11,250 for the pedestrian-and-bicycle facilities improvements.
At that time the council also accepted a donation of $2,500 from Salisbury University, a donation of $2,500 from the Seagull Century Foundation, and a donation of $1,250 from bike-SBY that was all included into the city’s contribution of $11,250 for the pedestrian-and-bicycle facilities improvements.
In August, the council approved another MDOT Bikeways Program grant for $32,440 to create a marked bike lane along 1.18 miles of Riverside Drive and .37 miles of South Boulevard, connecting Downtown and Salisbury University.