Bike Infrastructure Funding Raided to Fund Baltimore's Complete Streets Program

Emily Ranson reports on the stalled progress of the city of Baltimore's planned protected bike lanes.

"Last week the city released its new budget, but to the chagrin of bicycle advocates, it didn't include funding for the next phase of its separated bike network," according to Ranson. "Instead, it funnels money into another program and re-proposes projects that should have already been completed."

The $1 million originally intended for protected bike lanes will instead fund the city's Complete Streets program, approved in October 2018.

As a bicycle advocate, Ranson is disappointed with the change: "Transferring funds to Complete Streets might not seem like a bad thing, but the proposed bike projects list includes projects that should have already been completed and others that have already been counted in the 2017-2019 plan. Effectively, the city is adding $0 to its new budget for bicycles."

In fact, reports Ranson, all funding for Citywide Bike Infrastructure has been eliminated from the city's budget. With so many projects pushed back and currently lacking any funding, Ranson fears that the projects will never reach completion.