The TPB initiated the Transportation/Land-Use Connections (TLC) Program in November 2006 to provide technical assistance to local jurisdictions as they deal with the challenges of integrating land-use and transportation planning at the community level. The TPB’s FY 2016 Work Program budgets a total of $420,000 for this program. Of this total amount $160,000 is committed by the Maryland Department of Transportation from its Technical Assistance program element in the TPB’s Work Program.
The TPB received a total of 15 applications for FY 2016 TLC technical assistance including one from the District of Columbia, six from Maryland, and eight from Virginia. Applications included proposals for planning projects as well as for 30% design. Funding requests ranged from $30,000 to $80,000. The total amount requested for all applications was $749,000.
The TLC Project Selection Panel met on July 7, 2015 to develop a list of projects to recommend for funding in the FY 2016 round of TLC technical assistance. The TLC recommends funding 9 programs of which 6 are bicycle related.
Arlington County – Low Stress Bicycle Network Mapping ($45,000) Arlington County requests assistance in planning to increase bicycle use among the “interested, but concerned” user group. Working off research from Northeastern University, the County hopes to implement a network mapping methodology that will identify areas of low traffic stress to direct future bicycle facility investments and encourage more residents to consider bicycling. The final plan will include a GIS database of high-priority missing connections in the County to guide the ranking of capital projects.
District of Columbia - K Street / Water Street Bikeway and Pedestrian Connectivity Enhancements ($60,000) The District of Columbia requests assistance in addressing connectivity issues in Georgetown between the Capital Crescent and Rock Creek Trails. The project will create a safer, more accessible link between the two trails, as well as improve public space between 34th St and Aqueduct Bridge. The plan will address these present concerns and future multimodal issues with the anticipated expansion of the DC Streetcar.
College Park – Citywide Bicycle Boulevards ($30,000) The City of College Park requests assistance in the creation of a plan to design bicycle boulevards along neighborhood streets. The plan will work to identify routes and detail specific elements of roadway retrofits to improve safety and traffic stress for existing and potential cyclists. The final document will map and identify key City destinations, bikeshare stations, and cost estimates for proposed facilities.
Fairfax County - Vienna Metrorail Station Area Bicycle Improvements ($45,000) Fairfax County requests assistance in planning to prioritize and design improved on-road bicycle facilities along streets that access the Vienna Metrorail Station. The project will help the County identify and evaluate potential facilities, and develop planning-level cost estimates to guide future funding.
Gaithersburg – Improving Access to Transit ($30,000) The City of Gaithersburg requests assistance in improving first and last mile connections to the city’s three major transit stations. The plan will borrow techniques from the TPB’s TCSP funded “Access to underutilized rail stations study” and identify low cost and high investments to improve station access. The final plan document will include facility recommendations, financial cost estimates, to be implemented by the City in the short- and mid-term.
Prince George’s County – Central Avenue Connector Trail 30% Design ($80,000) Prince George’s County requests assistance in designing the first segments of the proposed Central Avenue Connector Trail, linking the Capitol Heights, Addison Road, Morgan Blvd and Largo Town Center Metrorail Stations. The trail is divided into five priority segments, and this project will help design facilities for the first segment near the Addison Road Station.
All projects are to be completed by June 30, 2016. Here's a list of previously completed projects.
In addition, under TAP, the following projects will be funding for Maryland
Montgomery County, North Branch Hiker-Biker Trail ($2,000,000) - Construct a trail connection between Rock Creek Trail and North Branch Trail.
Montgomery County, MD 355-Clarksburg Shared Use Path ($523,416) - Create a link in the existing trail network along MD 355 between Little Bennett Regional Park Trail and the Frederick Road Bike Path
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