Soon, you'll be able to cycle that beach cruiser + or enjoy a nighttime stroll with the fam under Tampa's famed tree canopies a little more safely.

The city just kicked off work on the first two segments of The Green ARTery, a "22-mile interconnected pedestrian and bicycle network around central Tampa linking neighborhoods, parks, schools, and other popular attractions," according to a release.

These first two parts will run the city $1.7 million — with about half being paid for by state grants, and the rest from the city's multimodal impact fees collected from new developments.

What makes the network safer?

Plans for the segments include:

Adding 4,000 ft of new + widened sidewalks
Lower speed limits
Completing fresh paving
Adding new solar-powered flashing crosswalk beacons
Improving road signs and markings

A look at what's to come for the Green ARTery path. | Graphic City of Tampa

What's the construction timeline?

Work just began on the 1.4 mile-Old Seminole Heights segment and the 1.1-mile Lowry Park Central section. Construction on both stretches should be finished by mid-August.

The entire project — which has been in the works since 2010 — should be finished within five years.