Bike, Ped Improvements on Horizon

On Monday night, the Hyattsville City Council will consider an $85,000 contract with NZI Construction to build out Phase I of the adopted city Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvement Plan. 

The project is funded with a $110,000 Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) Community Legacy grant. Roughly half of that money went to the installation of the now familiar yellow bicycle racks throughout the city.

If approved, the new bike lanes could be installed rather quickly.The city must spend the money by June 30, 2013 or the money could be forfeited. 

Last year, , which will cut north and south and east and west across the city along 40th and 41st avenues, Nicholson, Hamilton, Gallatin and Farragut streets. 

The city's bicycle and pedestrian improvement plan calls for a three phase make-over of the city's transport network for non-motorized travelers.

Phase 1 includes, mainly along Nicholson Street, 40th and 41st Avenues through central Hyattsville, and trails through southern Hyattsville connecting to the planned extension of the trolley trail (outlined in purple), already partially built on the grounds of the EYA development.

Phase 2, outlined in green, adds bike lanes connecting University Hills and the northern neck of Hyattsville into the downtown system, as well as adding lanes along Ager Road and Hamilton Street in southern Hyattsville. 

Phase 3 puts bike lanes along Belcrest road between the Prince George's Plaza Metro Station area and Adelphi Road as well as along Toledo Terrace at some point in the future. It should be noted that Toledo Terrace is not yet within Hyattsville's municipal borders, but plans are afoot to annex the area into the city as it is redeveloped from medium density apartment complexes to a series of high density mixed use transit oriented developments.

The Hyattsville city council meets on Monday at 8 p.m. in the Hyattsville Municipal Building at 4310 Gallatin Street. Council meetings are broadcast on Verizon Channel 12 and Comcast Channel 71.