At this week’s Council meeting, the City Council will consider approving a feasibility study project to build a side path along the north side of Campus Drive between Baltimore Avenue and the Rhode Island Avenue Trolley Trail.
The City received a grant of $89,600 from the Maryland Department of Transportation Bikeways; the grant requires a 20% match. City funding could be up to $22,400. Currently staff estimates that the project will use $87,600 in grant funding and require a City match of $17,520.
The project “as envisioned” is a 10-foot wide paved bicycle and pedestrian path located on University of Maryland property. The design will require significant study and is especially challenging because the old Paint Branch Stream meanders along this area. Short bridges and boardwalks will be necessary in some areas of the proposed trail.
Staff is requesting Council move forward with approving a contract to award 30% design to the engineering firm of Wallace Montgomery and Associates of Hunt Valley, MD. This firm has an open contract with the Metropolitan Council of Governments (COG) and the City as a member of COG can piggyback on the competitive -bid rates that this firm has negotiated with COG.
