Anniston officials identify possible funding source for cycling project

Anniston officials have identified potential funding for a year-old plan to make bicycling easier and safer downtown. If the money is approved next month, the city could start almost immediately adding bicycle lanes and signs along nearly 4 miles of road through downtown to increase recreational travel for residents — part of a larger plan that officials say will   turn Anniston into a cycling hub.

The Anniston City Council discussed the latest efforts to fund the project during a work session last week. City Planner Toby Bennington said he had identified available money from the Calhoun County Metropolitan Planning Organization to fund the approximately $211,000 bicycle project. The planning organization is a federally funded agency responsible for handling transportation projects throughout the county.

Bennington said he will take the city's request to the organization's meeting in September, at which point it will vote on whether to fund the project.

The city has already allocated about $50,000 in its budget next year to cover the matching funds for the project money.