Anniston council approves plan for bike projects

The Anniston city council approved a plan Tuesday to assist the city to find funding for bicycle and pedestrian related transportation projects in the city.  The city’s new bicycle and pedestrian concept plan lays out $6.2 million worth of projects to be built in phases over the next 10 plus years.  Initial priorities in the plan, which should be undertaken within the next 3 to 3 1/2 years, include enhancing access to the Coldwater Mountain bike trail network from the city’s downtown area including adding bike lanes along Alabama 202 and Noble Street to 4th Street.The initial phase also includes construction of the southernmost mile of the Chief Ladiga Trail extension, from the multi-modal transportation center at 4th Street to 15th Street, along with trailheads at the multi-modal center and at Grove and 13th streets.  The second phase of the program, to be implemented in years four through six, includes construction of the northern end of the Chief Ladiga Trail from Mike Tucker Park down to the U.S. 431 bridges and a connector bike path from the bridge to LaGarde Park, as well as a trailhead and other amenities in McClellan.  City Planner Toby Bennington said greater priority will be placed on projects that are most economically feasible and will have the greatest impact to downtown and other parts of the city.