City of South Pas Awarded $400K for its Bicycle Master Plan

Thanks to a chunk of change from Caltrans, the City of Trees is poised to offer new bicycle facilities and amenities in town. 

The City of South Pasadena was awarded more than $400,000 in Bicycle Transportation Account (BTA) Grant funds from the Caltrans Division of Local Assistance to implement its Bicycle Master Plan (BMP). Council members approved the plan back in August 2011, according to a city press release.

South Pasadena was one of 39 agencies awarded competitive grant funds out of a total of 124 applications submitted. According to the Caltrans website, South Pas received $234,000 for the Mission Street Green Lane project that amounts to 24.1 miles of bikeways. The city further received $184,500 for bike parking: racks, locks and shelters.

The Mission Street Green Sharrow Lane project is an enhanced class III bicycle facility that will be installed in the center of the right travel lane in both directions on Mission Street from Grand Avenue to Fair Oaks. In addition, bike boxes will be installed at certain intersections as a safety and mobility enhancement for cyclists.

The City’s Bicycle Parking project consists of installing 70 new bike racks, 10 bicycle lockers and three bicycle shelters at various locations throughout the city. Locations will include business areas/places of employment, transit stops, government buildings, parks and activity centers. Bike parking is an essential component to support bicycling as a viable mode of transportation, the city's press release states. Just as cars need parking, bicycles also need a location to park safely and securely, city officials have said.

“These grant-funded projects will promote healthy, environmentally-friendly mobility options supporting the city’s goal of multi-modalism while maintaining the city’s small-town character,'' Mayor Richard Schneider said in a prepared statement.

"A transportation system that incorporates bicycling can lead to a reduction in vehicle miles traveled, traffic congestion and related auto emissions, while providing healthy lifestyle choices and improved economic vitality,” he added.

To find out more information about both projects and the City’s BMP, visit the City’s website. The BMP is also available at the City Clerk’s Office located at 1414 Mission Street and at the South Pasadena Public Library, 1100 Oxley Street.  

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