The Projected Bike Lane Study has been put on hold as a result of COVID-19.
In a press release, Bike Walk Greenville reported revenue from tourism related taxes will not be able to support the project.
The group received an email from Calin Owens, the City Mobility Coordinator, on April 17th.
“One impact related to something you all have worked hard on and been involved with is the Protected Bike Lane Study. We were contracted with Toole Design Group to complete this project, and were gearing up for project kickoff when the decision was made to reallocate it’s funding. At this time, the contract with Toole has been terminated, and the project has been put on hold until further notice,” the email reported.
Bike Walk Greenvile reports the City has previously allocated $1 million per year of hospitality tax revenue for greenways and trails.
"On April 27, 2020 City Council held the second of two budget workshops, and when we reviewed the slide deck we learned that the budget not only eliminated the greenways and trails funding, but it also reduced the previously committed $4 MM for the Laurens Road Swamp Rabbit Trail extension bridges to only $1 MM," Bike Walk Greenville said.
Representatives said in the press release that this is another example of the saying that advocates measure success in decades not years.
The project is expected to be deferred until FY 21-22, starting in July 2021.
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