Landscaping Improvements Are Coming To A Section Of Owens Trail
Here is some great news from this week’s Week In Review newsletter from the City of Richardson:
Council Awards Bid for Oncor Signature Trails Landscape Project
Landscaping improvements are coming to a section of Owens Trail south of Collins Boulevard as part of Oncor’s Texas Trails Program. Oncor, North Texas’ regulated electric transmission and distribution service provider, is providing $250,000 for the project, which will be maintained by the City.
The section of Owens Trail being improved winds past Oncor transmission towers and lies within Oncor’s right of way. The improvements to the Owens Trail are designed to serve as an example of how Oncor can work with community partners to create landscaped trails that do not interfere with transmission lines.
Construction is expected to begin this month and wrap up in April.
On a personal note, this is good news for me. It happens to be in my neighborhood and on one of my usual routes. I can’t wait to see the completed improvements.
Trail Under Renner Road – Progress
Just wanted to post a quick pick of the progress on the trail that will go under Renner Road (just east of Central). I doesn’t look like much, but there is actually quite a bit being done here.
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Updates To The Central Expressway and Renner Road Underpasses
A bunch has happened since our last report on the almost completion of the first Central Expressway underpass , just south of Renner Road.
North of Renner Road, Underpass of Central Expressway - East Side
It now appears that the second Central underpass, just north of Renner Road, has been poured as well. That portion of the Richardson trail – from Alma Road (at the PGB Tollway), running under Central Expressway, then around to Renner Road – is complete.
North of Renner Road, Underpass of Central Expressway - West Side
The underpass at Renner Road – connecting this new trail to the existing Spring Creek Trail – is all that is left. As of a few weeks ago, it still looked like there was plenty of work that needed to be done. This weekend, we discovered that quite a bit of progress has happened and that underpass is well on it’s way towards completion.
Check out the pics:
Renner Road Underpass - Not Much Progress A Few Weeks Ago
Renner Road Underpass - Much More Progress This Past Weekend
Renner Road Underpass - Much More Progress This Past Weekend
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Here’s a map for this section of trail:
Follow our coverage of the Spring Creek Trail extension
– Including Under Central 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
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Glenville Trail Officially Open
Dallas Morning News editor, Bruce Tomaso, has reported that Richardson’s Glenville Trail is officially open. This is the trail that runs from Bowser Road, past Glenville, Mark Twain and Huffines Parks, and connects with Duck Creek Trail.
As you may already know, the trail has been open for months. However, as of the ribbon cutting and dedication yesterday, it is now official.
Click here to read Bruce’s article.
Here is a rough map of the new trail (in red and orange):
Here is our previous coverage of the construction of this trail:
Glenville Trail construction – 03/14/2010
Another Trail Under Construction – 06/27/2010
South Glenville Trail Almost Complete – 08/08/2010
Glenville Trail Bridge Complete – 09/12/2010
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Oncor Transforms Rights-Of-Way In Richardson
Several folks have been sending us information about Oncor and their efforts to improve north Texas cities through the creation of hike and bike trails through their transmission rights-of-way. As reported through Pegasus News, the Oncor Texas Trails SM program will produce trails that “will help create pathways that will be integral parts of the communities Oncor serves.”
What does that mean for Richardson since we already have hike and bike trails on Oncor rights-of-way throughout town? Here’s a bit from the Oncor press release:
Oncor has engaged la terra studio, inc., a Dallas-based landscape architectural firm, to assist with developing the design templates for the Oncor Texas Trails projects. In addition, la terra studio will assist with work on the inaugural Oncor Texas Trails project, a hike and bike trail in Richardson. In the coming months, Oncor will work with the City of Richardson to design and complete the landscaping on a portion of Owen’s Trail, an existing trail on a section of Oncor’s transmission right-of-way. As part of the planning, Oncor will work with the City of Richardson to determine how Oncor employees will be able to volunteer their time to be part of this project.
“The Richardson Trail will be the first of many trails that Oncor and its employees will work on to help create a destination for our customers to gather with their friends and family, “said Jackson.
“Oncor has always been an important partner in our community, and its Oncor Texas Trails program will be a very welcome enhancement to our city and our trail system,” said Richardson Mayor Gary Slagel. “We have done a lot of work recently in partnering with local companies and volunteers to create the type of environmental improvements the Oncor Texas Trails program will bring, and we are especially excited to see these improvements focus on the highly used paths which many of our residents enjoy on a daily basis.”
On a personal level, this is great news for me since the Owen’s Trail runs through my neighborhood. I’m also hoping more folks will see these trails as destinations to gather – and not just pass through (and hopefully clean up after their dogs).
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More Trail Progress – Towards The Central Underpass
There is a bit more progress on the Spring Creek Trail extension that leads to one of the Central Expressway underpasses. In case you aren’t sure where this is, it branches off from the Spring Creek Trail rest area, at the southeast corner of Central and Renner Road.
Last Week: The forms were set up ready for cement.
This Week: This part of the trail is complete.
Here’s a shot from further down the trail, closer to the underpass:
More to come.
Follow our coverage of this trail construction:
August 28, 2010
August 21, 2010
July 25, 2010
June 13, 2010
May 8, 2010
April 3, 2010
March 11, 2010
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Bike Friendly Richardson 
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