Bicycles are gaining ground in the state of Iowa after six complete street projects were awarded a combined $75,000 in grants.
The complete street projects and the amount of funding received by each, administered through the Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, breaks down as follows:
- Addition of bike racks and two portable parklets along University Avenue in Windsor Heights ($15,000);
- Connection of Neal Smith Trail to Sixth Avenue in Des Moines ($9,165);
- Addition of a dedicated bike-lane and shared-lane markings on South Fifth Street in Carlisle ($14,835);
- Extension of the trail and provision of safe crossing of Northwest 60th Avenue in Johnston ($15,000);
- Support of expansion of the Des Moines BCycle bike-share program in Des Moines ($15,000); and
- Conversion of three parking spaces to protected bike corrals along Ingersoll Avenue in Des Moines ($6,000).
Three on-street vehicle parking spots will turn into bike corrals on Ingersoll Avenue in Des Moines, while Windsor Heights will introduce portable parklets, where mobile features like benches or bike racks will take over parking stalls, and the city of Carlisle will create its first bike-friendly lane with sharrow markings.
Carlisle City Administrator Andrew Lent said his city’s portion of the grant, nearly $15,000, will help create roughly two miles of bike-lane and shared-lane markings on South Fifth Street, which is a primary artery in the community of roughly 4,000 residents.
Carlisle recently opened most sections of the Scotch Ridge Nature Trail, which will create a 3-mile path through the city and connect to the Summerset Trail.
Complete streets initiatives emphasize traffic-calming elements and more streetscape features for pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and transit riders.
