Regional bicycle and pedestrian planners learned Wednesday that five local improvement projects were recommended for federal funding, including two multi-use path improvements and a bike boulevard.
A state transportation committee recommended five regional projects out of 14 submitted by the Regional Transportation Authority’s bike and pedestrian group.
Pima Association of Government’s John Liosatos said until the state transportation board votes on the recommendations on Nov. 19, they are considered unofficial.
According to Liosatos, a total of 20 projects across the state were recommended by the committee. That means 25 percent of the funding will be directed to the Tucson region.
“We did rather well,” Liosatos said.
The projects recommended by the committee:
- Improvement projects for San Xavier Road between Old Nogales Highway and I-19
- Bicycle safety improvements around Sabino High School
- Liberty Avenue bicycle boulevard
- Rillito River Path improvements at Camino de la Tierra
- Pantano River bicycle and pedestrian improvements
The federal grants require the local jurisdictions to provide 5.7 percent of the total projects’ cost in order to be eligible. This summer, the RTA voted to provide the 5.7 percent matching funds out of the RTA’s bike and pedestrian improvement money.
PAG planner Gabe Thum said the matching funds would be about $210,000, but that it provides a 20-to-1 return on the money.
The projects will be funded in 2014.