The TPB approved more than $1.2 million in funding for four bicycle and pedestrian projects in Maryland through the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP). The TAP program provides funding to transportation projects other than traditional highway construction, including bicycle, pedestrian, trail, and Safe Routes to School projects.
The projects were selected in part based on how well they advance regional priorities, such as improving accessibility for communities with high concentrations of low-income and/or minority populations and people with disabilities, and for enhancing walkability to schools and transit.
Here are the four projects:
The Forest Glen project in Montgomery County will design a sidewalk along the north side of Forest Glen Road from Woodland Drive to Sligo Creek Parkway in Silver Spring. The project closes the missing link in the existing sidewalk that will provide a safe pedestrian access to Forest Glen Metro Station, Forest Glen Medical Center, Holy Cross Hospital, Sligo Creek Stream Valley Park, and Sligo Creek Trail. The project creates biking and walking connections to transit, one of the seven endorsed initiatives. Plus, a new separated bike lane on the south side of Forest Glen Road will make it safer for people biking and will connect to the Sligo Creek Trail, which is part of the National Capital Trail.
The City of Frederick received funding to complete its bike and pedestrian trail for the Golden Mile Multimodal Access project. This project provides trail connections in a regional job center and retail hub in the county. The project is located in an Equity Emphasis Area, meaning the TPB has identified the area as serving low-income and traditionally transportation underserved people. This project will provide better and safer connections to transit for people biking and walking.
Prince George’s County received funding to continue to expand Capital Bikeshare in the county. Capital Bikeshare will provide more biking options and help connect people to transit and other destinations. These next phases will bring bikeshare to Greenbelt and Langley Park. The project would serve Equity Emphasis Areas, and would provide connections to transit and the National Capital Trail.
In Rockville, new sidewalks and paths along Scott Drive and Veirs Drive will provide better and safer places for people walking and biking. It will connect with future trail projects and Robert Frost Middle School and Wootton High School.
The TPB works with the Maryland State Highway Administration to administer the funding for the projects. The projects will be submitted to the Maryland Department of Transportation for inclusion in its Capital Improvement Program.
The TPB approved funding for TAP projects in Virginia in April and will vote on funding for TAP projects in the District of Columbia in the fall.