DES MOINES, Iowa —A $240,000 project could create new bike lanes and trails throughout the downtown Des Moines area.

Cycling enthusiast and chairman of the Des Moines Bicycle Collective, Carl Voss, said he believes the investment will improve safety and attract new riders downtown.

"This should give them the confidence to be out on the street and do that last part of their commute, whether they're commuting on residential streets or trails getting to downtown Des Moines," Voss said. "This will help connect a lot of parts of Des Moines. This will be transformative for downtown bike commuting. It should make the more casual rider and the newer rider more comfortable in traffic."

The project will link existing trails create new corridors and introduce contra-flow lanes.

"We will have to use that in areas -- especially along Fifth Avenue -- where you will actually see bikes traveling in both directions even though traffic only goes in one direction," city traffic engineer Jennifer Bohac said.

The proposal targets seven key routes: Fifth Avenue from Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway to Interstate 235, Walnut Street from Water Street to Fifth Street, Sixth Street and Seventh Street between Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway and Cherry Street, Cottage Grove Avenue between Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway and 19th Street; and in the East Village, Grand Avenue and Locust Street between East Fourth and 17th streets.

RAYGUN owner Mike Draper said the plan will be good for business.

"We are in support of people coming down here no matter what their mode of transportation," Draper said. "I think it's great.

The project is being financed by an Iowa Department of Transportation grant and work is scheduled to begin in July.