Two grants that the city of Abilene expected to get but didn't will slow one project down and postpone another indefinitely.

About $1.6 million in grants from the Texas Department of Transportation would have helped pay for the completion of the city's first hike and bike trail.

Another $600,000 would have gone toward a landscaping and lighting project on South 1st Street between Butternut and Locust streets.

Now the city is left with its share of the project funding - $400,000 for the hike and bike trail and $152,000 for South 1st Street redevelopment - but it's not enough to complete both projects.

The city's public works staff is suggesting the $152,000 for the South 1st Street project be used instead to further construct the bike trail.

The South 1st Street project would have included the addition of a landscaped median and ''streetscaping'' to replicate the stretch of North 1st Street beside Everman Park.

Bob Lindley, the city engineer, said Friday the $552,000 won't be enough to complete the bike trail - after all, officials had planned to spend $2 million.

The first part of the trail, which was recently completed, runs along Judge Ely Boulevard from East North 16th Street to just north of Business 20. In the next phase, the trail would have continued to South 11th Street where it would have split to connect Cal Young and Grover Nelson parks.

Lindley said the project will now take several phases to complete, one of which will include construction of a pedestrian and bicycle bridge over the railroad tracks at Business 20.

The next phase, which will include extending the trail on the south side of Business 20, probably won't begin until next summer or fall, Lindley said.

Also, this Thursday, the city's public works staff will ask the Abilene City Council to consider authorizing payment of an additional $28,500 to close the books on the first phase of the hike and bike trail.

The contractor, Bontke Brothers Construction, was not expecting to have to direct the trail around utilities in some areas, and some driveways that were too steep had to be reconstructed, Lindley said.

City Council members must approve project funding changes in excess of $25,000.

Abilene City Council

When: 8:30 a.m. Thursday

Where: Council chambers, City Hall, 555 Walnut St.

What's on the agenda:

• Consider a request from David and Pam Barnhill to rezone property at 1443 Hickory St. so they can open a fitness center that specializes in exercise equipment for disabled residents.

• Consider a request from Weatherbee Construction to rezone property on Duchess Avenue from mobile home zoning to single family and multi-family residential zoning.

• Consider a request from David Dickerson to rezone property at 3334 E. Highway 80 from agricultural open space to general commercial. Dickerson wants to open a store to sell golf carts.

• Consider a $28,500 increase for the hike and bike trail that was recently completed along North Judge Ely Boulevard. The contractors had to work around utilities in some unexpected areas, and some driveways had to be redone.

• Consider the Development Corporation of Abilene's yearly spending report.

• Consider financing by the Stamford Higher Education Facilities Corporation for the benefit of Hardin-Simmons University.