The Hyattsville City Council got an update last night on progress towards implementing the city's bicycle and pedestrian improvement plan. Now, in addition to the approved plans to build the first phase of a network of bicycle lanes throughout Hyattsville, city leaders have to decide wether or not they want to add another $20,000 to upgrade pedestrian crosswalks at several intersections along the planned bicycle routes.
Back in in March, , which will cut north and south and east and west across the city along 40th and 41st avenues, Nicholson, Hamilton, Gallatin and Farragut streets.
Since then, engineers have returned with designs which call for pedestrian improvements like wheelchair accessible curb cut-outs and crosswalk striping at a number of intersections. These details were not a part of the basic scope of design work called for by the city council back in March. As such, it would cost roughly $20,000 to add them to the plans and construct them.
The Bike and Pedestrian Improvement project is funded with $110,000 with a matching 2011 Community Legacy grant from the Maryland Department of Community Development. The grants require that at least 50 percent of the grant be spent within one year of being awarded. So far, the city has spent $55,000 on a number of bicycle racks which have been installed throughout the city.
The remaining half of grant funds are earmarked for the implementation of the bike lane striping and signange.
If the city decides to proceed with all work, including the pedestrian intersection improvements, the city would have to authorize the expenditure above the remaining grant funds to cover the costs of the total project, estimated at $72,320.
If approved soon, Hyattsville cyclists could see the first of the new lanes laid down by early spring of next year.
That would only be the first of a planned three-phase series of bicycle route improvements throughout the city.
You know like cleaning up the drug activity thats happening on Farragut St around the alley close to 42nd Avenue. Oh THAT'S RIGHT! The city council likes to pretend we're all artsy and crime free and they try and suppress reports of crime to make this craphole look more appealing! Sorry folks but I haven't met a single individual who hasn't laughed at the thought of moving to this stinksburg
But I will say that I bicycling is the quickest way to get anywhere within three miles of my house. I don't use my car unless it's raining or I need to travel a farther distance. That being said, I will also speak from personal experience to say that those on four wheels are just as guilty of violating traffic laws as those on two. I live on Queensbury, and I see a constant stream of cars doing the California-roll all the way down my thoroughfare. Personally, I think Maryland needs to make the Idaho-yield-stop legal for cyclists.
Further, if you're that negative of Hyattsville, I'm sure you could find somewhere else to live!
This is what makes a lot of places in VA more appealing to people and is the reason I am sure as to why they are whiling to pay more. This kind of change we need on our roads, we are only a few miles from the District and many more people, just like they do from Arlington or Alexandria, would bike in to work rather than drive or metro. Also, those changes attract a different kind of neighbor (the one you want to have around), you don’t see drug dealers and trouble makers hanging out in clean well traveled roads. So is it really a waste of money? I don’t think so. Those of us that moved to this city and like it here are hoping for a walkable city and more alternate form of transportation, this is a good opportunity to have both. If you really hate it here I am sure you “could” be welcome in another area…