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Takoma Park unveils final designs for New Ave bikeway; construction funding still needed
Summary
City staff and consultants presented final designs for the New Ave (New Hampshire Avenue) bikeway sections A and B, reviewed required utility relocations and parking impacts, and noted estimated construction costs (Section A ~$3.9M; Section B ~$2.5M). The city has a FY26 Kim Lanphier bikeways grant covering part of design; staff must secure permits, easements and construction funds.
Takoma Park — City planning staff and the RK&K design team presented final designs for the New Ave bikeway project (sections A and B), describing the corridor’s layout, expected neighborhood impacts, and next steps for construction funding.
Planning manager Ross Grigsby said the project implements a long‑standing vision to provide continuous, safe bicycle infrastructure along Maryland 650 (New Hampshire Avenue). "The route creates a two‑directional bikeway to make new connections between local, commercial, recreational, and transit hubs while also preserving essential vehicular access to neighboring properties," Grigsby said.
Design details: the work is divided into multiple segments. Where frontage roads exist the project will repurpose low‑volume frontage lanes to provide buffered two‑way or shared‑use bike facilities; where frontage roads do not exist the design proposes an 8–11 foot shared‑use path with a minimum paved buffer. The design includes ADA upgrades, signal and bus‑stop modifications (including audible pedestrian signals at specified intersections), supplemental LED lighting, and stormwater management measures including biofiltration units and a stream‑restoration component on park property.
Impacts and costs: staff said Section B will require relocation of several utilities and removal of approximately 15 parking spaces in some frontage‑road segments; Section A will require relocation of about 10 utility poles and removal of roughly 24 parking spaces in places where frontage roads are repurposed. Construction cost estimates presented: Section A approximately $3,900,000 (including utility relocations) and Section B approximately $2,500,000. The city reported a FY26 award through the "Kim Lanphier bikeways" program for the Purple Line connector, an award of $212,000 that staff said covers 80% of that project’s design cost; the city will provide the remaining 20% match.
Council questions focused on parking loss near businesses, bus‑stop conflicts (staff said adjustments are shown in the final plans), tree and slope impacts adjacent to parks, and whether shared paths would accommodate e‑bikes and e‑scooters (staff said the paths are multipurpose shared‑use facilities). Staff said final construction estimates remain pending as RK&K finishes PS&E materials and that the city must secure funding for permits, utility relocations and construction prior to moving forward.
What happens next: staff will provide finalized construction estimates as RK&K completes design work and will pursue funding for right‑of‑way, permits and construction, including potential state bond requests and other grants. Council members requested specific cost figures to support outreach for external funding.
