Covington Street Cycle Track Installed in Federal Hill and Riverside

The Covington Street Cycle Track/Bike Boulevard began installation last week in Federal Hill and Riverside and is mostly completed. The project, led by the Baltimore City Department of Transportation’s (DOT) BikeBaltimore program, is part of the Baltimore City Bike Master Plan. The project is funded by a State Highway Administration grant.

The Covington Street Cycle Track connects to a recently-completed extension of the Gwynns Falls Trail along Key Hwy. adjacent to Rash Field. It is also included in the reconstruction plans for the Key Hwy. and Light St. intersection. The cycle track travels from Key Hwy. to Randall St. It runs along Federal Hill Park, passes in front of Digital Harbor High School, and ends at Riverside Park.

Moving south, the cycle track from Key Hwy. to E. Cross St. is a two-lane bike lane along the east side of the street. This section of Covington St. currently has angled parking on the west side and a southbound travel lane.

From E. Cross St. to Gittings St., Covington St. is a two-way street. The cycle track does not have dedicated bike lanes, but sharrows in the middle of the street. These are painted bike logos with arrows which will direct cyclists to ride in the right lane.

From Gittings St. to E. Clement St. there is a painted southbound bike line and a sharrow in the driving lane for northbound travelers.

From E. Clement St. to Randall St. there are sharrows in the right and left driving lanes.

The cycle track does not eliminate any parking spaces.

DOT held a community meeting in May 2018 to gather input on the project.

DOT is partnering with Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, Baltimore Greenway Trails Network, and South Baltimore Gateway Partnership to “establish a better connection between the Middle Branch trail and the Inner Harbor.” This connection would go through Sharp and Stockholm Streets in Stadium Area and Solo Gibbs Park in Sharp-Leadenhall. This effort received a $250,000 federal grant last year.

The South Baltimore Peninsula also has a bicycle “main route” on Fort Ave. which includes painted bike lanes from Jackson St. to Fort McHenry. There is also a bicycle trail on Key Hwy. from Anthem House to McComas St.

Port Covington has a growing network of bike paths and lanes. An additional trail network has been proposed along the train tracks in Locust Point.

From the Baltimore City Bike Master Plan (click to enlarge)

 

 

via https://www.southbmore.com/2019/11/20/covington-street-cycle-track-installed-in-federal-hill-and-riverside/