SALISBURY — The Salisbury City Council on Tuesday approved receiving a state grant to implement a new bicycle network plan, which would provide ideas for programs and projects to improve the city’s bicycle infrastructure.

The city received a $49,000 grant from the North Carolina Department of Transportation, which includes a mandatory $21,000 match from Salisbury, to update the city’s bicycle network plan. The current bike plan was funded by a separate grant from NCDOT in 2006 and was officially approved by the City Council in 2009.

“We had the opportunity to apply for a grant from our (metropolitan planning organization) to update our bicycle plan. So we submitted this application, the DOT looked at our application, came back and said ‘we really think you need a new plan instead of an improved plan,'” said Transportation Director Wendy Brindle .

Brindle said NCDOT recommended Alta Planning + Design conduct the study, and Alta provided a timeline including public participation sessions in the spring and summer of 2025 before completing the project by November of the same year.

The new plan will examine the city’s current cycling infrastructure, programs and policies and provide recommendations on improvement methods as well as a prioritization plan. Brindle said the study will also include performance metrics so the city’s progress can be tracked.

The grant includes a clause that the project must be completed within two years of the effective date of the agreement. Additionally, the city would be responsible for any additional costs if the project exceeded the allotted $70,000, Brindle said.

After Brindle’s presentation, city councilors voted unanimously to authorize City Manager Jim Greene Jr. to enter into an agreement with NCDOT for the grant as well as budget the $21,000.