We might not like all the projects that the federal stimulus grants are funding, but it's cool to see some of the money going to build projects for bicycles.
Just today, the US Department of Transportation announced $1.5 billion in Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grants. About $43 million of that, or 3%, will go directly to bicycle and pedestrian path networks in Philadelphia-Camden and Indianapolis.
In addition, portions of grants to rebuild bridges and create rail-transit hubs in other cities will be used for bicycle facilities. Seeall the TIGER projects.
Philadelphia-Camden
The biggest TIGER grant to bicycling announced Wednesday was the $23 million that Philadelphia and Camden will share for a 16.3-mile network of biking and hiking paths to connect the two cities. Overall, it's a $54.8 million project
The project will repair, reconstruct and improve 16.3 miles of pedestrian and bicycle facilities to complete a 128-mile regional network in six counties around Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey. According to the announcement:
“TIGER funds will be used to improve the primary commuter routes closest to downtown, in some of the communities hardest hit by the current economic downturn including Southwest Philadelphia and Camden, NJ. Non-motorized commuting options will connect residents in these areas to more prosperous communities that provide employment opportunities, including Philadelphia and Cherry Hill, NJ.”
The system of bike paths would be joined by the path on the Ben Franklin Bridge over the Delaware River.
Indianapolis
In Indianapolis, the TIGER grant will fund $20.5 million toward the Indianapolis Bicycle and Pedestrian Network, whose total cost is $62.5 million.
The 8-mile urban bicycle and pedestrian network in downtown Indianapolis will link Mass Avenue, Indiana Avenue, the Canal Walk and White River State Park, the Wholesale District, and Fountain Square along with many other commercial and business destinations. Says the report:
“Investing in pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure is a cost-effective strategy to reduce traffic congestion, greenhouse gas emissions and dependence on oil while also providing public health, safety and air quality benefits.
The project improves livability by providing alternative travel modes. The improvements are expected to boost downtown revenue by encouraging more people to spend more time downtown, and by increasing easy access to vendors and services offered downtown.”
Other cities
Bicycle improvements are included in other TIGER grants:
A project in Burlington, Vermont, will, among other things, improve a section of the Waterfront Bike Path;
The replacement of the US 421 bridge between Milton, Kentucky, and Madison, Indiana, includes bicycle access to link bike paths on each side of the bridge. The $131 million project includes $20 million in TIGER funding;
Replacement of I-244 bridge in Tulsa, Oklahoma, will allow bicycle access across the bridge;
Road rebuilding in Seattle's South Lake Union neighborhood includes improvement of bicycle lanes;
Road reconstruction in Portland South Waterfront area includes bicycle facilities;
Transit centers in Revere, Massachusetts, Normal, Illinois, St. Paul, Minnesota; Ames, Iowa; and Kent, Ohio, will all get accommodations for making connections by bicycle.
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