The City of Saluda was one of 12 communities across the state to be awarded a planning grant from the N.C. Department of Transportation (DOT) for a bicycle and pedestrian study.
The Saluda Board of Commissioners met June 9 and agreed to accept the grant and pay $2,500 as the city’s matching funds.
Saluda was sent notification from John Vine-Hodge, DOT planner on May 22 that it was awarded the planning grant out of 26 eligible applications.
“This year, we received 26 eligible applications from across the state,” Vine-Hodge said by letter. “The Grants Awards Committee selected 12 towns to receive funding, and your town is one of those communities. Nine of the towns will receive the standard planning grant, and three of the smaller communities will receive a plan that will be administered by the Division of Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation.”
Vine-Hodge said smaller communities the size of Saluda may be better served by a plan more focused on a smaller scale and invited Saluda to participate in the development of a condensed bicycle and pedestrian plan. The plan, according to Vine-Hodge, will still be comprehensive and developed in a format similar to the state’s current plans, but will involve a shorter timeframe and focus on key issues in the community. The plan will recommend improvements that that are practical and easily accomplished, according to Vine-Hodge.
DOT will enter into a professional contract with a selected consultant to create the plan and will administer the contract with Saluda as DOT’s partner.
“We look forward to working with you to create a plan that will improve conditions for walking and bicycling in your community,” Vine-Hodge wrote.