State Funds Include Money for UMBC Bike Path

Catonsville and Arbutus will benefit from the first round of state grants distributed this week and meant to improve bicycle routes in communities across Maryland.

Gov. Martin O'Malley announced the recipients of the first round of grants for the Bikeways Program, totaling $2.5 million in funds.

The program pays for bike paths in various stages of development across Maryland. A total of 10 counties and Baltimore city received funding this year. The grants covered needs such as on and off-road bicycle route connections, bike route signage, bike racks and safety improvements.

Baltimore County will receive $5,000 for signs marking a bicycle route between and the Halethorpe MARC Station and bike racks at the station.

The would travel from Poplar Avenue to Carville Avenue one way from UMBC to the train station. From the train station back to UMBC, the route would follow Oregon Avenue to Birch Avenue and Locust Avenue.

Along the route, signs appear with a bicycle on them and the mileage to the next destination.

This is the first type of bicycle route marked with signage that the county will plan, county planners have said.