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The Baltimore City Department of Transportation has won four grants under two state and federal programs to upgrade bus and light rail service, further develop the downtown bicycle network, improve the Inner Harbor promenade and teach bicycle safety, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake announced today.
“Families are attracted to strong neighborhoods with transportation choices including bikeways and safe pedestrian access,” Mayor Rawlings-Blake said in a press release, touting the grants as a step toward her oft-stated goal of attracting 10,000 new families to the city. “These grants will go a long way to increase quality of life in Baltimore’s neighborhoods.” Rawlings-Blake thanked U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, the Maryland Congressional Delegation and Gov. Martin O’Malley for their work in providing these grants to Baltimore.
From the press release:
"The grants include:
• $1.65 million from the Federal Transit Administration’s Bus Livability Program to make safety and accessibility improvements at the Cherry Hill Light Rail Station, which connects bus and light rail service. Improvements include an expanded bus waiting area, a kiss and ride lot for riders being dropped off at the station, and an upgraded station plaza.
• $320,000 from the Maryland Department of Transportation’s Maryland Bikeways Grant Program for the design and construction of the downtown bike network. This project will create dedicated bike lanes in the downtown district that connect to Citywide bicycle routes and trails.
• $50,000 from the Maryland Department of Transportation’s Maryland Bikeways Grant Program to assess policy changes and safety improvements needed for bicyclists and pedestrians to use along the Inner Harbor Promenade.
• $44,500 from the State Highway Administration’s Transportation Enhancements Program for Bicycle Safety Education programs.
The grant announcement marks three consecutive years that the City has been one of the top local government recipients of competitive federal highway and transit grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation. Prior awards were for the purchases of buses for the Charm City Circulator’s Banner Route (FHWA Access to Parks Program), Reconnecting West Baltimore (FHWA Transportation Community and System Preservation Program), Highlandtown Bus Stop Improvements (FTA Bus Livability Program), and the Kent Street/Westport Transit Plaza (FTA Bus Livability Program). Including the grants announced today, Baltimore has secured nearly $9 million in competitive funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation."
