Metro grants to pave San Fernando Bikeway’s path

A combination of grants will allow Burbank to complete tens of thousands of dollars worth of improvements for bicyclists without dipping into the city’s own pocket.

The roughly $64,500 in grants through the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority likely will go toward the planned San Fernando Bikeway, said David Kriske, Burbank’s deputy city planner.

The proposed bikeway would be a three-mile path that would be part of a route that takes bikers from Sylmar to the downtown Burbank Metrolink station.

In the meantime, the city plans to spend $12,279 of the money by July 2013 on minor improvement projects such as making repairs to streets that have bike paths, and adding push buttons for lighted crosswalks at intersections.

The Burbank City Council last week approved receiving the grant money.

Kriske noted that the crosswalk improvements are especially needed at intersections where a smaller street crosses a larger one. Signals there may remain green for drivers to keep traffic moving, but not recognize the bicyclists waiting on the smaller street, Kriske said.

“The problem for bicycles, bicycles will get stuck there forever. In a case like this, it will know the bike is there and give it the time to cross,” he said.

Burbank has used the same grant funding source in the past for the construction of Chandler Bikeway — the bike lanes on Hollywood Way and Victory Boulevard — and the city’s bicycle parking project.

The money has also been used to provide the local match for grants that support projects as the city works toward completing its Bicycle Master Plan.

“We can avoid using general funds for virtually all our bike improvements,” Kriske said.