Bike Trails and Routes | Bike Friendly Richardson

March 2, 2013 • 6:42 am 3

Richardson City Council Awards Bid for Central Trail Construction

From the City of Richardson weekly newsletter:

The City Council on Monday awarded a bid of $3.4 million to Ed Bell Construction Company to extend the Central Trail 1.9 miles from the Arapaho Road DART Station to the southern city limit. Construction of the 10-foot wide concrete multiuse trail is expected to begin in April and last for about one year.

The $4 million project is funded through Dallas County and the City of Richardson’s 2010 Bond Program. The lowest bid to construct the trail came in about $400,000 over budget, so the City removed some amenities such as irrigation systems, landscaping, and benches to be constructed in a possible second phase at a future date. The City also hopes to use $600,000 in Regional Tollway Revenue funds awarded for the Central Trail to help enhance the project.

The Central Trail currently runs from the Spring Creek Trail in north Richardson and ends at the Arapaho Road DART Station. The extension will run alongside the DART rail line and is planned to eventually connect with the Richardson city limit to the south and a future connection to the Dallas’ White Rock Creek Trail.

Watch the City Council presentation at http://bit.ly/V6oiYQ.

We are extremely excited that this is happening and we’d still like to see the small gap in the plan addressed.

Filed under: Bike Change, Bike Trails and Routes, City Stuff, Central Trail, Central Trail Construction, Central Trail South, City Of Richardson, Dallas County, DART, New Trail, Trail, Trail Construction

October 30, 2012 • 9:34 am 2

Help Plano See the Light

By bergerandfries

All, Plano is looking at putting in a traffic signal at Preston Road and Commonsgate where Bluebonnet Trail could cross Preston. In order to do that, they have to do a traffic signal warrant study. Both vehicular traffic on Preston and bike/ped traffic on Bluebonnet at Preston will be counted. A signal can be warranted based on the volume of vehicular traffic (which we easily have), and/or volume bike/ped traffic. Get the picture?

When?
Wed 10/31 from 1 pm to 7 pm
Thurs 11/1 from 7 am to 1 pm

What?
You need to travel West/East on Bluebonnet and turn around in the gas station parking lot (RaceTrac or QT) and head back East/West during the above windows of time.

I will leave 2400 Glenville Drive at 4:00pm on 10/31 to go to this intersection, and will ride from this intersection back to 2400 Glenville Drive starting at 7:30am on 11/1 if anyone wants to join me!!!

Filed under: Advocacy, Bike Change, Bike Friendly, Bike Trails and Routes

October 19, 2012 • 4:06 pm 1

Richardson City Council Receives Update on Central Trail

From the City of Richardson‘s weekly newsletter:

The City Council received an update Monday on the extension of the Central Trail, which runs from the Spring Creek Trail in north Richardson and currently ends at the Arapaho Road DART Station. Plans call for the trail to extend to Richardson’s southern city limit and eventually connect with Dallas’ White Rock Creek Trail.

The City expects to begin construction on the trail in January and complete the project in early 2014. The 1.9-mile extension will cost $4 million and is funded through Richardson’s 2010 Bond Program and Dallas County.

Watch the work session presentation at http://bit.ly/P8H54b.

We’re pretty excited about this extension and what it would mean for connecting the east side of Richardson to the White Rock Creek Trail (although the current plan doesn’t extend that far, just yet). This would make commuting into Dallas – via multi-purpose trails – pretty easy.

We still have our reservations of how the trail is planned just north of Arapaho, connecting to the Arapaho DART station and the existing portion of the trail to the north. So far, it’s just a narrow sidewalk and there are no plans to re-route or widen it. Click here to see our post on this.

Filed under: Bike Trails and Routes, City Stuff, Central Trail, City Of Richardson, DART Trail

October 12, 2012 • 7:39 pm 2

Bike Lane Update

From the City Of Richardson‘s weekly newsletter:

The City Council received an update on efforts to expand the Bike Transportation Program in Richardson at its work session on Monday. The City is among many other municipalities and organizations in North Texas working to provide more bike lanes and improve safety for people who commute by bike. Many of these bike routes are designed to connect across the region when complete.

Expanding Richardson’s bike lane system and enhancing pavement markings and signage is one of the City Council’s near-term goals. Ten miles of a planned 20 miles of bike lanes have been installed, including lanes on Custer Parkway, Grove Road and Waterview Drive. Additional lanes funded through the Safe Routes to School grant are expected to be complete in 2013 along Collins Boulevard from Plano Road to Jupiter Road, Yale Boulevard from Arapaho Road to Campbell Road, and Owens Boulevard from Woodoak Drive to Campbell Road. The Duck Creek Trail Extension will add a route in 2014 along Collins Boulevard from Plano Road to US-75.

The City has installed signs identifying bike routes in Richardson and is working to clearly mark them on roads to improve safety. City officials will continue to work with bicycle organizations, including local partner Bike Friendly Richardson, and neighborhood groups to identify and implement additional bike routes.

Watch the Bike Transportation Program presentation here.

Link to online map

Filed under: Bike Trails and Routes, Bike Lanes, Bike Plan, City Of Richardson

September 21, 2012 • 7:16 pm 5

Proposal for Regional Trail Connection at Breckinridge Park

From the City Of Richardson:

The City of Plano is partnering with the City of Richardson to plan and construct a 1.9-mile trail that would wind through Richardson to connect an existing trail in southeast Plano to the Timbers Nature Preserve Park in Murphy. The trail is completely funded through the City of Plano’s bond program. The City of Richardson would provide the land and future maintenance of the trail if the City Council approves an Inter Local Agreement at a future meeting.

The trail is proposed to be built in two phases, with Phase 1 running from the west side of Murphy Road within an Oncor high transmission line corridor to the existing trail on Rowlett Creek in Breckinridge Park. Construction on this part of the trail is expected to take place in 2013. Phase 2, which is currently unfunded, would connect Rowlett Creek to Otto Middle School. The City of Plano hopes to receive a grant from Collin County to pay for additional trail length, which is set to be constructed in the next two to three years.

Watch the work session presentation at http://bit.ly/Pr38zq.

Filed under: Bike Trails and Routes, City Stuff, City Of Plano, City Of Richardson, New Trails

July 19, 2012 • 9:58 am 2

Owens Trail Closure July 23 to July 27

FYI, Owens Trail will be closed July 23 to July 27 for repairs. The gate across the creek bridge will be closed and locked. Dan Baker at the city says, “We are anticipating the repairs to take 5 days leaving that section of the trail closed Monday – Friday of next week (July 23 – 27). There is an issue with the concrete panel that abuts the bridge on the east side being undermined / eroded. We are removing that section of trail, stabilizing the bank, and replacing that section of the trail. We hope to be 100% by Saturday if not sooner.”

Filed under: Bike Trails and Routes, Trail and Road Hazards

June 15, 2012 • 5:14 am 7

White Rock Creek Trail Closure – Detour

With all of the construction happening with LBJ (Interstate 635), the White Rock Creek Trail will be closed for about 2 months. There is a detour with directional signage to help guide cyclist get across the highway. Here (pdf) is a map of the detour and signage.

Until it’s reopened, the best route for users is the Cottonwood Creek Trail crossover @ the High 5.

Filed under: Bike Trails and Routes, Trail and Road Hazards, 635, Closure, Construction, Dallas, Detour, LBJ, Texas, White Rock Creek Trail

March 17, 2012 • 9:00 pm 1

Trail Rules and Guidelines Proposed

From the City of Richardson’s weekly newsletter:

The City Council is considering rules and guidelines that would improve safety on Richardson’s growing network of trails.

The proposed rules are similar to those in effect for City parks. They include prohibiting motorized vehicles on trails, requiring pets to be on a short leash, requiring users to travel at a safe speed and requiring bicyclists to yield to pedestrians.

Suggested guidelines for trail courtesy and safety include passing slower users on the left, keeping to the right side of the trail, listening for other trail users who may be approaching, yielding when entering or crossing trails and wearing a properly fitting bicycle helmet.

Once in effect, rules and guidelines will be posted on the City’s trails web page, included on printed trail maps and displayed on signage which will be installed along the trails.

There are more than 30 miles of trails in Richardson, and more than 18 miles of additional multi-use trails are planned.

Click the link below to watch Monday’s City Council discussion:
http://richardsontx.swagit.com/e/03122012-1061/#4

This is a great move for safety on our trails. Even though this is still under consideration by the City Council, trail courtesy should already be practiced by cyclists.

Filed under: Bike Trails and Routes, City Stuff, Trail Guidelines, Trail Rules

February 4, 2012 • 9:46 am 1

Portion of Breckinridge Trail Closed

From the City of Richardson newsletter:

Today, the Richardson Parks and Recreation Department closed a portion of the Breckinridge Trail in Breckinridge Park due to erosion damage. The impacted section is located at the pedestrian bridge between park entrances A and B. A timeline for repairs is still being determined, and it is unknown at this time when the trail may re-open.

Alternate routes are available in the park for trail use.

Click here to download a larger map.

Filed under: Bike Trails and Routes, City Stuff, Trail and Road Hazards, Breckinridge Trail

January 20, 2012 • 5:00 pm 1

Spring Creek Trail is Re-Opened

According to this week’s newsletter from the city:

Repair work on Spring Creek Trail has been completed by the contractor ahead of schedule, and other than some cleanup work still taking place over the next several days, the trail is open for all users once again.

The trail was closed in three phases beginning Jan. 3, and the rehabilitation work along the 1.1 mile section had been expected to last until Feb. 7. The City contractor removed and replaced concrete trail sections that had been damaged by tree roots and shifting soil.

Filed under: Bike Trails and Routes, City Stuff, Trail and Road Hazards, Richardson, Spring Creek Trail, Trail Repair