City Stuff « Bike Friendly Richardson

December 9, 2011 • 6:20 pm 1

City of Richardson Receives “Safe Routes to School” Funding Grant

Again, if you get the City’s newsletter, you’ve probably already seen this:

The City of Richardson has been awarded federal funding through a Safe Routes to School grant from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) for two schools in Richardson: Richland Elementary and Yale Elementary.

At Monday’s work session, the City Council was briefed by staff on the City’s efforts to acquire this funding, the status of the programmed projects and the improvements that will be made around the schools.

The work that will be funded by the grant includes installation of barrier-free ramps, sidewalks, bike routes, bike lanes and bike racks.

The City Council will consider a resolution to approve funding agreements with TxDOT at a future meeting. Click here to view the work session presentation.

This is fantastic news for families with kids going to these schools. This is especially good news to me, since one of these schools is in my neighborhood. We’re grateful that the City kept up with this, even after not getting selected the first time.

Filed under: Advocacy, Bike Change, City Stuff, Good Causes, City Of Richardson, Richland Elementary, Safe Routes To School, Texas, Yale Elementary

December 9, 2011 • 5:30 pm 0

City Receives Award from GDPC for Urban Design

Black Friday Ride - Gathering At East Side

Cyclists Gathering At The Shops at Eastside

If you get the City’s newsletter you probably already knew this:

This week, the Greater Dallas Planning Council presented an award for urban design in the built environment to the City of Richardson for the City’s commitment to good urban design.

Urban design relates to the form, arrangement, design and functionality of buildings, neighborhoods and public spaces, including parks, yards, sidewalks, and even transportation facilities. The goal of good urban design is to create attractive environments for people and their activities. The panel of judges felt that the City had demonstrated a particularly good effort for a first-ring suburb, where redevelopment and construction on infill sites is more common than new development on vacant property.

Richardson received the award for the combined impact created by several projects—the Brick Row and Eastside mixed use developments, each of which contain important streetscape and open space requirements; the Neighborhood Vitality Program, which was conceived to strengthen and support neighborhoods and encourage reinvestment into residential property; and the construction of Routh Creek Parkway, which was built not as a sterile transportation corridor, but as an attractive public area that links motorists, pedestrians and recreational users with the Spring Creek Nature Area nearby.

This is the type of stuff that makes me proud to live in Richardson. This city gets it and continues to strive at making it a better place for it’s residents.

Multi-Purpose Trail Along Routh Creek Parkway

Filed under: City Stuff, City or Richardson, Greater Dallas Planning Council, urban design

December 9, 2011 • 9:00 am 0

Richardson Police Department Bike Patrol – On The Job

You know you live in a bike friendly city when the police department has a bike patrol. These guys were keeping spectators and attendees safe during last weekend’s annual Christmas parade.

Now all we need is postal delivery and meter readers done via bike.

Filed under: Bike Friendly, City Stuff, Bicycle Patrol, Bicycle Police, Richardson Police Department

November 12, 2011 • 6:42 am 3

Spring Creek Trail Extension Officially Open

© City Of Richardson - (Council Members Amir Omar and Scott Dunn, Collin County Commissioner Cheryl Williams, Mayor Bob Townsend, Congressman Sam Johnson, Council Member Kendal Hartley, Mayor Pro Tem Laura Maczka and Council Member Mark Solomon)

If you’ve been following us for the past couple of years, we kept you updated on the progress of extensions of the Spring Creek Trail. These new extensions provide safe passages under Central Expressway and Renner Road.

This past Thursday was the ribbon cutting that officially opened the trail extension.

From the city newsletter:

City Council Members, staff and local officials celebrated the opening of the Spring Creek Trail extension at a ribbon cutting ceremony held Thursday.

The new extension is a 1.3 mile, 12-foot wide concrete trail that extends the popular Spring Creek Trail north under Renner and US 75 and ends at Alma Road and the George Bush Turnpike. The trail also travels south following Prairie Creek under US 75 and then turns north to connect with the Renner Trail (see map below).

The wide, concrete trail accommodates multiple uses including walking, jogging, biking, strolling and in-line skating. Federal, state, county and local dollars helped to pay for the design and construction of the trail that allows users of the trail system a safe passage under busy roadways.

Quite frankly, after such a long time coming, we’re surprised that it was such an understated event. You’d think the city would be proud of it’s accomplishments and make a bigger P.R. event out of it. Regardless, it’s here and it’s open. Enjoy.

To see all the coverage of this trail extension development, click on the links below:

Spring Creek Trail – Including Under Central and Under Renner Road Connections:
Trail Construction – 03/11/2010
Under Construction-Two Bike Trails Under Central Expressway- 04/03/2010
More Trail Construction Pics – 05/08/2010
Trail Construction Moving Forward Nicely – 06/13/2010
Trail Construction Update Pics – 07/25/2010
More Trail Progress – 08/21/2010
New Guard Rail – 08/28/2010
More Trail Progress – Towards The Central Underpass – 09/26/2010
Central Underpass – Progress On The West Side – 11/28/2010
More Trail Progress – Retaining Walls Under US75 – 12/05/2010
Trail Under Central Progress – More Gabion Walls – 02/13/2011
Trail Under Central Progress – West Side Ramp – 03/06/2011
Spring Creek Trail: North Of Renner Road – A Progress Report – 04/02/2011
Trail Under Central – Serious Progress - 04/17/2011
Took A Ride Under Central Expressway Today - 04/23/2011
Updates To The Central Expressway and Renner Road Underpasses - 05/09/2011
Spring Creek Trail – Central and Renner Road Underpass Updates - 06/11/2011
Trail Under Renner Road – Progress - 07/28/14
More Renner Road Underpass Progress - 08/14/2011
Renner Road Underpass – Retaining Wall Progress - 08/27/2011
Major Progress With The Trail Under Renner Road - 09/18/2011
Trail Under Renner Progress – Forms Are Up, Cement Is Being Poured - 10/03/2011
Trail Under Renner Road Is Complete - 10/08/2011

Filed under: City Stuff, Bike Trails and Routes, Richardson, Texas, Spring Creek Trail

October 8, 2011 • 8:07 am 6

Trail Under Renner Road Is Complete

The trail under Renner Road is finally complete (although not officially opened). Check out the video from the north side to the south:

Filed under: City Stuff, Bike Trails and Routes, New Trails, New Trail Construction, Renner Road, Trail Under Renner Road

October 3, 2011 • 7:16 pm 3

Trail Under Renner Progress – Forms Are Up, Cement Is Being Poured

It’s been a couple of weeks since our last progress report. The city is finally getting close to completing the trail under Renner Road. All of the forms are up and they’ve started pouring the concrete on the north side. What’s interesting about this part of the process, compared to when they worked on the trail under Central, is that the side rail is already up. My guess is that it’s because of safety issues – since there’s a 12 foot drop on the other side.

Here are some pics:

Last Of The Trail Connection - South Side Of Renner

Forms Leading From The Existing Spring Creek Trail - South Side Of Renner

Forms Continue Under Renner Road - Facing North

View Of Where Forms Meet Concrete Under Renner Road - Facing South

North Side Of Renner Road Facing South. Note Side Rail.

View Of The Trail Connection, North Side Of Renner - Facing North

View From Above - On Renner Road (east bound traffic)

Filed under: City Stuff, Bike Trails and Routes, Trail Construction, Renner Road, Spring Creek Trail, Trail Under Renner Road

September 23, 2011 • 8:52 pm 2

A little more about those Near Term Action Items

Last week, the Richardson City Council didn’t really dicuss any particular item on the list of Near Term Action Items. However, it looks like this Monday, the Council will most likeley vote to adopt the list of action items they’ve been working to identify and rank.

Cycling is specifically mentioned under item L., Transportation and Mobility, as “Evaluate the expansion of the City’s bike lane system and enhancing pavement markings and signage”.

Some of the other items on the list are:
Community Vitality and Neighborhood Integrity
Environmental Management
Health Care Facilities and Community Wellness

To me, a vibrant and diverse cycling culture contributes to all three of the items above, in additon to Transportation and Mobility. Hopefully, the City Council and City staff agree. Every time that cyclists make a trip by bike instead of using a car, they cut down on emissions, get a healthy dose of excercise and fresh air, and provide another pair of eyes on the street in our neighborhoods. A win for cycling thus often provides a parallel win in another category.

We’ll continue to monitor the progress of the Near Term Action Items and provide updates as information becomes available.

Filed under: Advocacy, City Stuff, Bike Trails and Routes

September 18, 2011 • 8:18 pm 2

Major Progress With The Trail Under Renner Road

It’s been a few weeks since we reported on the Spring Creek Trail construction under Renner Road. When we checked on Labor Day, they had started to back-fill the area inside of the retaining wall. But, last week, it actually looked like some of that was dug back up.

This week, however, the underpass looks much more complete. Most of the inside area has been filled and now it looks like it’s well on it’s way to having the actual trail forms built.

Here are some pics:

Facing North From The South Side Of Renner

Here You Can See How Much They Filled In

Under Renner Facing North

Facing South (under Renner)

To see more posts about this and other Spring Creek Trail upgrades, click over to the Maps section of this site.

Filed under: City Stuff, Bike Trails and Routes, Renner Road, Spring Creek Trail, Trail Under Renner Road

September 17, 2011 • 11:10 pm 3

Accommodating cyclists is a Near Term Action Item of the Richardson City Council

I’m signed up for the Week In Review email sent out by the city of Richardson every Friday. From the September 16th email:
“City Council Discusses Near Term Action Items
The Richardson City Council continued discussion on its 2011-2013 Near Term Action Items at its meeting Monday night. The Council reviewed the latest revisions and suggested several changes, additions and deletions. Among the top items proposed are: a charter review to evaluate the selection of Mayor, finding ways to make Richardson more accommodating to bicyclists, and enhancing signage and making other improvements to make City Hall more customer friendly.
The Near Term Action Items have been discussed at previous meetings and are on the agenda for next Monday’s work session. The Council hopes to officially approve them at the September 26 Council meeting.”

If you have any ideas to share with the Council about how to continue to accommodate and attract cyclists, the city’s website says that:

“The City Council holds business meetings on the second and fourth Monday of each month at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers. Work sessions are held every Monday at 6:00 p.m. Citizens are welcome to attend Council meetings and may speak during the visitor’s section. Citizens also may attend work sessions and speak to the Council during the visitor’s section (promptly at 6 p.m.) on weeks when there is not a business meeting at 7:30 p.m.”

Alternatively, you can write a letter to the City Council. Letters and speeches regarding Council agenda items become part of the public record and may be accessed on the City’s website as part of the agenda packet posted after each Council meeting or work session.

Personally, I feel that the City of Richardson has been very proactive and responsive in terms of understanding our needs and implementing MUP trails and bike lanes. Two of the essential items for making cyclists feel welcome are safe routes to get where they’re going, and a secure place to lock a bike up when they get there. The City seems very aware of and responsive to the first item. Towards the second item, it would be great if the City could offer incentives or partner with local businesses to offer more secure bicycle parking options. It would make it a lot easier for cyclists to do more errands, dining out, commuting to work, etc. by bike if there were more secure parking facilities for our bikes. Those are my 2 cents – please feel free to post your ideas in the comments and let the City Council know.

Filed under: Advocacy, City Stuff

September 11, 2011 • 3:21 pm 12

They’re Closing The Gap Between Preston Ridge Trail and Cottonwood Trail

Blue Is The Preston Ridge Trail. Green Is The Cottonwood Trail.

If you’ve ever tried to ride the Preston Ridge Trail from Richardson, Plano or even north Dallas into downtown Dallas, you might of found it a bit difficult. Sure it’s a good trail that leads towards downtown, but it falls short on Coit Road, between Belt Line Road and Spring Valley Road. The closest connections into town would be either the White Rock Creek Trail which begins at LBJ Freeway, just east of Hillcrest Road – or the Cottonwood Trail, which doesn’t begin until you go east on Spring Valley and south on Maham Road. Both routes would require you to leave the multi-purpose Preston Ridge Trail and navigate either streets or sidewalks to reconnect with the other trails. Easy for some, but not for less experienced riders.

It looks like that’s about to change. We got a tip from a BFR friend that there is a new multi-purpose trail (which is part of the Cottonwood Trail) being constructed that will run along the east side of Coit Road, then along the north side of Spring Valley Road which will make the connection between the Preston Ridge Trail and the Cottonwood Trail. Great news for folks who don’t want to ride on the busy streets of Coit Road or Spring Valley Road.

It’s not a perfect solution. What qualifies this as a multi-purpose trail instead of a sidewalk? In this case, not much. Unlike other multi-purpose trails that run along the utility right-of-ways (like the Preston Ridge Trail), there isn’t much real estate to work with. Some would even think that this is no more than just a really wide sidewalk. They did the best they could with the limitations at hand. For that, we’re grateful.

We feel the best way to help differentiate this as a multi-purpose trail is to put a divider stripe down the center. This will indicate that it’s used for more than just a sidewalk. Also, put up signage to let people know what the intent for this trail is.

Click here or on the map above to get a closer look at the new connection. Below are some pics of how it looks so far.