RALEIGH — The N.C. Department of Transportation is accepting applications from communities for the 2019 Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning Grant Initiative. The program provides funding for municipalities across the state to develop comprehensive bicycle or pedestrian plans.

All North Carolina municipalities are eligible to apply for a standard bike or pedestrian plan. Additionally, the following options are available:

• Counties with populations of less than 50,000 may apply for a bicycle or pedestrian plan.
• Smaller municipalities with populations of less than 10,000 can also apply to develop combined bicycle and pedestrian plans.
• Municipalities of less than 5,000 population may apply for a Project Acceleration Plan — an abbreviated plan primarily focusing on priority project identification and implementation.
• Municipalities (and counties with populations of less than 50,000) with a bicycle or pedestrian plan may also apply to update their plan if it is at least five years old.

The deadline for applications to be submitted electronically is Aug. 2 at 5 p.m. Award recipients will be notified by November 2019.

This program is sponsored by the department’s Division of Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation and the Transportation Planning Branch.  Since 2004, approximately $5.5 million has been awarded through this program to more than 200 municipalities and three counties statewide.

Proposals are divided and judged in geographical groups to help establish equitable distribution of funding across the state. Recipients commonly include a diverse mix of municipalities from large cities to small towns.

Plans funded are not for one specific project but represent a comprehensive strategy for expanding bicycle and pedestrian opportunities within a given municipality. They may address facilities, programs, policies and design guidelines that encourage safe walking and bicycling.

A short webinar will take place soon to describe the grant program and respond to any questions from potential applicants.

For more information on the Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning Grant Initiative, contact Bryan Lopez at 919-707-2606 or balopez@ncdot.gov.