DFW Trails

[shaun3000]

On the White Rock Creek trail, today, I noticed a construction sign for the Cottonwood trail, just north of the DART bridge. Looks like they have some fences up and some dirt moved, as well.

[CasperITL]

On the White Rock Creek trail, today, I noticed a construction sign for the Cottonwood trail, just north of the DART bridge. Looks like they have some fences up and some dirt moved, as well.

That went up Friday. The black erosion control fencing in place dates back to the DART Red Line construction 7-8 years ago.

[Alex Rodriguez]

I guess they are going to go ahead and finish the whole Cottonwood Trail project after all.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/DN-cottonwood_09met.ART.State.Edition2.4b8d743.html



Well, now add a connector at the Southern End of the Cottonwood Trail to the White Rock Creek Trail. So now "all they need to do" is finish connecting the orphaned middle High 5 section south to Hamilton, and north under Central Expressway.

CCSJ: 0918-45-774
District: Dallas
Let Date: DEC 2009
Let Status: Actual
Fund Cat: 10
Project ID: HP 2006(867) CSJ: 0918-45-774
Description: PEDESTRIAN / BICYCLE LINK FOR TRAIL ALONG COTTONWOOD CREEK
Limits From: HAMILTON PARK
Limits To: WHITE ROCK CREEK TRAIL IN DALLAS Estimate: $2,453,995
Actual: $2,377,559
Length: 0.0 Miles

[dfwcre8tive]

Here's a map:

http://www.dallasparks.org/Downloads/Trails/cottonwood.pdf

[txRNGr]

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/fea/healthyliving/fitness/stories/DN-cottonwood_09met.ART.State.Edition2.4b8d743.html

High Five project to connect Dallas bike and walking trails to northern neighbors

09:24 AM CST on Tuesday, March 9, 2010

By JOE SIMNACHER / The Dallas Morning News
jsimnacher@dallasnews.com

LBJ Freeway at Central Expressway has long been the end of the road for cyclists, runners and walkers heading either north or south.

But thanks to a $4.2 million project, the High Five's days as a trail obstacle are about to end.

Two path sections under the High Five, connecting the Cottonwood Trail, are scheduled to open in May, weather permitting.

"For anyone wanting to travel by bike or walking long distance, this is almost the only way to get north into the Far North Dallas, Plano and Richardson area from kind of central Dallas," said Jared White, a project manager with the Dallas Park and Recreation Department.

Likewise, riders up north will have improved access to White Rock Lake and the Katy and Santa Fe trails inside the loop.

The High Five has been part of the problem for trail users since its completion in 2005, but it ended up being part of the solution.

Texas Department of Transportation engineers built a sixth level just under the $261 million project for nonmotorized transportation. They also left room for the trail connections.

"Without that, this would have been almost impossible to do – or much more difficult," White said.

Dallas County is managing the project, which is being built with $3.3 million from federal and regional transportation funds and $828,657 of local money. Northstar Construction Inc. of Fort Worth is the general contractor.

Although about eight weeks of work remain, some cyclists are already hitting parts of the path – including Marc Mumby, president of Bike DFW, a bicycle safety and advocacy group. So far, he likes what he sees.

"It's really quite cool to be able to ride your bike under the High Five," he said. "It's just amazing. It's nice and wide, it will be safe."

The newest trail sections create an oasis of tranquility, despite their proximity to one of the state's most hectic freeway interchanges, White added.

"There's almost a surreal feeling when you are on this section under the High Five," he said. "It's very peaceful. You're just cruising through there and there's all this traffic around you ... but it's kind of very nice down there."

Closing the trail gaps follows years of work and planning by public and private groups, said Gray Mayes, Texas Instruments' director of government relations.

"It was a collaborative effort between the city of Dallas, city of Richardson, DART, Dallas County and the private sector – Texas Instruments and other companies – and the community at large," Mayes said.

White said people often ask why bike paths cost so much.

"Think of it as you are pouring a one-lane road," he said. "It's 12 feet wide, just the same as a travel lane. It has to be designed to very specific specifications, due to the grade and the slope and all that. It's not quite as easy as throwing down a sidewalk."

A 900-foot segment just north of LBJ Freeway cost about $1 million. A 14-foot drop needed to be tamed to a maximum 5 percent grade, and retaining walls were built to stabilize the bank.

On the south side, which is yet to be complete, a bridge and retaining walls had to be built at Cottonwood Creek. Both ends of the bridge will have esplanades with benches, landscaping and grassy areas.

"I think it's very, very exciting," said former Dallas City Council member Mary Poss, an early and longtime supporter of the Cottonwood Trail who helped raise private money for the project. "These pieces that are being linked to the other trails will complete a 35-mile segment from downtown Dallas to Plano."

[CasperITL]

Here's a map:

http://www.dallasparks.org/Downloads/Trails/cottonwood.pdf


The map showing the connection points near Royal Oaks CC is wrong. It cannot connect in those spots. But I see what they are getting at.

There are some survey stakes where the planned bridge would cross the creek near Royal.

The bridge on the north end of Hamilton Park has been under construction for almost a year. I wonder what the hold up might be.

[tamtagon]

I hope you take a bunch of pictures of/from the trail as it crosses the highways, and post them. The ones you posted before were nice.

[dfwcre8tive]

It will be great when they connect it to DART's Forest Lane Station.

http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=32.907884,-96.76187&spn=0.006683,0.013851&t=h&z=17&lci=bike

[CasperITL]

This is the future southern terminus of the Cottonwood Trail in Dallas. It connects with the White Rock Creek Trail just west of the Red Line Dart bridge.

http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/351/ctw4a.jpg

http://img54.imageshack.us/img54/1720/ctw1a.jpg

http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/1583/ctw2a.jpg

[txRNGr]

Thanks for the photos Casper.

[dfwcre8tive]

Tour Dallas is Saturday: http://www.tourdallas.org

Tour Dallas bike race is your speed, no matter what that is
10:00 PM CDT on Thursday, April 1, 2010
By MARK NORRIS / The Dallas Morning News
norrism@dallasnews.com
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/040210dnmettourdallas.3b0f8ff.html

Tour Dallas isn't your typical bike race.

For one, it isn't a race at all. And the participants aren't the usual cyclists.

That's the way race organizer Mike Keel wants it.

"You'll see all ages, shapes and sizes. You'll see kids out there on training wheels with this thing. It's a real playful atmosphere," Keel said.

Saturday, around 3,000 riders will participate in the eighth annual event that encourages people to get off the couch and move around.

Three different route lengths – 8, 20 and 30 miles – cater to the various experience levels of the participants.

The start site for all routes is Dallas City Hall. Riders will begin their treks at 8 a.m. and will go through downtown, Uptown, East Dallas and White Rock Lake.

There are no street closures, but more than 200 Dallas police officers will be along the route watching the riders and managing traffic.

At the end of the route, at City Hall Plaza, there will be a celebration for all riders, which includes free pizza.

That's the perfect reward for Keel, who said, "I just ride so I can eat more food."

[shaun3000]

They new trail through the spillway has opened and the temporary asphalt trails have been removed. The new trail is VERY nice. My favorite feature is the "on-ramp" from the trail to Winsted. It's so nice not to have to stop and make a hard-right turn, any more!

[CasperITL]

jRi3bIAyn5g

[CasperITL]

Construction is moving at a steady pace on the south end of the Cottonwood Trail, south of Forest. Each block below is roughly 3 feet tall. I would estimate the bridge including the wooden forms is around 50 feet. Nothing to really put it in perspective, but it is pretty big.

A few weeks ago

http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/4979/cotton1a.jpg

Today. Hard to get a grasp on what they have done, but any of the blocks you see in the first photo are basically buried in the second. The top row in the first photo, is the bottom row in the second.

http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/8020/cot1a.jpg



http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/8263/cot2a.jpg

[dfwcre8tive]

Some photos of the Trinity Strand Trail Turtle Creek Plaza:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/loweroaklawn/sets/72157623962996079/

[MDE]

jRi3bIAyn5g

Thanks for the video and pictures.

[dfwcre8tive]

Work starts on new Trinity Strand Trail in Dallas' Design District
10:30 PM CDT on Wednesday, May 26, 2010
By STEVE THOMPSON / The Dallas Morning News
sthompson@dallasnews.com
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/052710dnmettrinitystrand.8d32dbd.html

It's been eight years since a group of naturalists, urban planners and developers began raising money to build a walking and biking trail along the abandoned creek that runs where the Trinity River did a century ago.

This month, Friends of the Trinity Strand Trail came a step closer to their goal with completion of a trailhead on Turtle Creek Boulevard.

"It's really happening now," Shelly White, the group's executive director, said this week. "This is really our first construction that we can show to the community."

The trailhead, Turtle Creek Plaza, will be a gateway to the Trinity Strand Trail, a 7.8-mile path being developed in the Dallas Design District just outside the river's eastern levee.

The trail is to be built in phases, with the first portion – behind the Hilton Anatole hotel, between Stemmons Freeway and the modern river channel – to be completed next year.

It eventually is to link with the popular Katy Trail just north of American Airlines Center. And one day, it is supposed to hook up with two small spurs that will cross the levee, bringing hikers, bikers, runners and in-line skaters into the long-delayed downtown Trinity River park.

...

[mjblazin]

What defines an abandoned creek? Did it belong to someone?

[CasperITL]

It was never microchipped.

[dfwcre8tive]

Interested in the Dallas bike plan? Help plan it with new map tool
7:59 AM Fri, May 28, 2010
Michael Lindenberger/Reporter
http://transportationblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2010/05/interested-in-the-dallas-bike.html

So, this is pretty cool stuff.

Last night at the open house for the 2011 Dallas Bike Plan, officials unveiled a new web site you going to want to check out if you have any interest in following, or even influencing, the development of this plan over the next year.

The site -- http://www.communitywalk.com/bikedallas -- presents a interactive map that will allow you to mark your favorite biking routes, flag problem areas and more, and then share that data with city and regional planners at work developing the plan.

The map will be shut down June 30, to allow planners to take the input from the public and incorporate it into the plan. That final plan, discussed here by colleague Joe Simnacher, will be completed next summer, officials told several hundred attendees at the open house last night.

After the data and input is collected, officials will release a draft plan and have another public hearing.

[Forrest Gump]

Looks like the next stage of the Katy Trail Extension construction might be happening soon.

This morning I noticed markers/sticks and the outline of the trail from McCommas on the east side of Central Expwy thru Glencoe Park/Palomar Hotel and also at Skillman and Sandhurst where the section ends.

Hopefully construction starts soon.

[electricron]

I'm not sure this is the correct location to post this news article, but here it is
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/yahoolatestnews/stories/061410dnmethorsepark.1b281a3.html
More than 60 riders inaugurated the Texas Horse Park and helped break the world record for the largest peacetime trail ride. They competed in "Ride for the Rescues," a national effort by the American Competitive Trail Horse Association and Humane Society of the United States to raise money for equine charities. About 1,500 people participated across the country.

[Forrest Gump]

Construction under way this morning in Glencoe Park for a trail near the wall on Central Expwy running south to north .. surely part of the Kay Trail Extension.

[Rowlett-baby]

Nice video!

Has the city though about setting up, bike rental stations? I would love to ride these trails when i come visit!

[CasperITL]

Sorry nerds. No fat cat fancy Calatrava champagne brunches for billionaires. No helicopter flyovers. No webcam. No mayor. Not even a city councilman....but late today the Cottonwood Trail Bridge was installed just south of the Forest Lane DART Station.

Big bridge! Two piece bridge. Basically the longest bridge in this style you can purchase without a support in the middle. Got there just as the last piece was being placed by the crane.

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/3997/1001726o.jpg

http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/3955/1001725lq.jpg

The lightning and rain cut my visit a little short checking more of it out.

[dfwcre8tive]

Today's the last day to add comments to the Dallas Bike Plan map!

http://www.tooledesign.com/dallasbikeplan/

[MDE]

http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/4327/cbt1.jpg

http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/8939/cbt2.jpg

[Forrest Gump]

Signs up at McCommas/Central and Skillman and Sandhurst indicating the Katy Trial Extension is in progress. They are currently working on the intersection at Glencoe Park and Martel Avenue.


Construction under way this morning in Glencoe Park for a trail near the wall on Central Expwy running south to north .. surely part of the Kay Trail Extension.

[lakewoodhobo]

Signs up at McCommas/Central and Skillman and Sandhurst indicating the Katy Trial Extension is in progress. They are currently working on the intersection at Glencoe Park and Martel Avenue.


Oh wow, I thought this would NEVER happen! I almost wish I could see a photo of the sign (or I will look tonight since Skillman and Sandhurst are just feet away from the house).

[CasperITL]

There is also a sign for Phase III Katy Trail Construction on Worcola at the DART RR crossing behind Kroger.

So far they have only moved dirt in Glencoe Park.

[dfwcre8tive]

Do you think something like this could work downtown? I could see this on the Houston Street Viaduct to separate a bike lane from traffic.

n0nEtdUdD1o&fe

[boozo]

Signs up at McCommas/Central and Skillman and Sandhurst indicating the Katy Trial Extension is in progress. They are currently working on the intersection at Glencoe Park and Martel Avenue.

Yesterday, the city was tearing up the planters on the McCommas overpass- I guess the Katy trail is going across Central Expressway here.

[txdore]

Does anyone have a good google earth file on the parks system (including the master plan)?

[CasperITL]

No. Matter of fact one would think that the city would keep good maps online of the park system and paths that interconnect the parks. But they do not. The city is stuck in 1996 when it comes to the internet.

Sadder still are the websites run by advocacy groups like the "Friends of _________" insert place name. Katy Trail, Santa Fe Trail, White Rock Lake. All are outdated with information and are rarely if ever updated.

The result is that there really is not much information available regarding parks, paths, trails and amenities. If one were new to Dallas, no way could they figure anything out.

[gshelton91]

as a matter of fact... i just finshed creating a new site for Santa Fe Trail... it is up already we are going to announce it soon. i added a google map of the whiterock trail system with tons of reference points and you can get to it via iphone but i think it may be too busy with too many things on it...

we still have a few last things to do on the site but it is mostly done... We had someone else create the site before and no one in the group really knew how to make a site... So i got on a site called Yola and built it there... very easy and we should be able to keep it up to date.

go check it out. www.friendsofsantafetrail.org

[CasperITL]

go check it out. www.friendsofsantafetrail.org


Ahh. That's better. Makes more sense.

I have hounded the Katy Trail folks many times about including more user friendly information on their website. The narrative they use makes sense if you are familiar with the trail but is totally confusing if you have never been there before. New users want to know how to get there, where to park, are there bathrooms. Last thing they want to read about are donations, capital campaigns etc.

[gshelton91]

ahh Bathrooms are a good idea i will add that to the directions for the trail... thanks... love to hear any other thoughts... ideas...

[tamtagon]

There should be some old school work out stops with chin-up bars, stretching rails, incline(able) sit-up benches and stuff like that.

[ksig121]

There should be some old school work out stops with chin-up bars, stretching rails, incline(able) sit-up benches and stuff like that.

You are absolutely right! I remember when I was in school in Austin Town Lake (now LBL) trail had an area like that right near the Riverside Dr entrance. It was very convenient and provided some AWESOME eye candy...

[tamtagon]

You are absolutely right! I remember when I was in school in Austin Town Lake (now LBL) trail had an area like that right near the Riverside Dr entrance. It was very convenient and provided some AWESOME eye candy...

It's all part of making Dallas a more beautiful city.... haha

Maybe the non profit "friends of" organizations serving each of the trails can generate funding through circuit training --- donate whatever amount to the Friends of your Local Trail and you're lead through an endurance circuit and exercise regimen on equipment that lines the trail. Places like Victory Park and Fair Park would be great locations for more traditional indoor gymnasium and locker room accommodations where friends-of-the-trail contributors can park a bike and/or stash personal items.

[CasperITL]

There should be some old school work out stops with chin-up bars, stretching rails, incline(able) sit-up benches and stuff like that.

It passes through 3 parks with playgrounds, basketball courts etc.

[CasperITL]

love to hear any other thoughts... ideas...

Well, I guess I will wait and see what they do for final touches to the trail in terms of signage, water fountains etc.

[gshelton91]

Well, I guess I will wait and see what they do for final touches to the trail in terms of signage, water fountains etc.

All we get is concreet and grass... they will install the 911 signs when they have money and time... so a couple of years probably.

it is up to the friends group to fund drinking fountains, benches, trees, etc.

[exp8tri8]

The Santa Fe Trail could open early, before the bridges are built:

http://eastdallasblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2010/08/the-nature-stretch-of-the-sant.html

[dfwcre8tive]

Follow the Katy Trail and you soon can go all over town
09:15 PM CDT on Saturday, August 14, 2010
By JOE SIMNACHER / The Dallas Morning News
jsimnacher@dallasnews.com
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/081510dnmetkatyupdate.229221d.html

For cyclists and runners, Dallas is getting closer to connecting the dots between its two busiest trails.

Three projects are either in or near construction that will link the Katy and White Rock Lake trails. Eventually, Dallas' trail network will connect downtown with much of East and North Dallas – and the suburbs beyond.

The first of the improvements, now under construction, will allow Katy Trail users to continue north by crossing North Central Expressway via the McCommas Boulevard overpass on a separate, dedicated lane.

"This Katy Trail connection has been in the works for several years," said Michael Hellman, planning manager for the Dallas Park and Recreation Department. "It's been challenging."

Planners are snaking the trail northward using land owned by DART and Oncor.

The current phase also will add 12-foot paths from the Katy trailhead south down McKinney Avenue and north up the frontage road to Glencoe Park near Mockingbird Lane.

By year's end, Dallas is expected to take construction bids for a suspension bridge – with an estimated price tag of $8.1 million – that will lift the trail over traffic on Mockingbird Lane.

Eventually, the trail will continue from DART's Mockingbird Station to White Rock Lake Station, near Northwest Highway and Lawther Drive.

Jeffrey Bradley of Dallas, while biking on the Katy Trail last week, said he applauds any moves that help separate cyclists and motorists, who can be distracted.

"Their mind might kind of be caught between home and work," Bradley said of car drivers.

"That's not an excuse, but that's what happens. As a biker, you've got to watch out."

Bradley also said he is looking forward to the wide bike lanes.

Bob Topczynski, a regular Katy Trail user from Dallas, was also in favor of the improvements.

He said the links will provide longer distances for him on his biking exercise routes.

"It's a great idea, and I wish they would get it done somehow," he said. "It would be a lot of fun."

The trails are being built by the Dallas Public Works and Transportation Department. The parks department will manage the completed paths.

The projects require cooperation and funding by city, state and federal agencies, said Chiamin Korngiebel, the project manager for the city.

The Texas Department of Transportation had jurisdiction over planter boxes on McCommas that were removed to make room for the new path.

The proposed Mockingbird bridge must be suspended from towers on just one side of the structure to avoid damaging the DART tunnel below the site, Korngiebel said.

[gshelton91]

Next week the bridge over garland road check out the friends of the Santa fe trail web site

[CasperITL]

Too bad the bridge goes nowhere. It still will not connect to the lake. Yet.

[shaun3000]

Huh? The trail crosses Winsted and connects to the lake. There is already a bridge over Winsted, I'm not sure if they will use that bridge or build a completely new one.

[CasperITL]

Huh? The trail crosses Winsted and connects to the lake. There is already a bridge over Winsted, I'm not sure if they will use that bridge or build a completely new one.

No and no. Not anytime soon.

If you read this misinformed DMN blog.....

http://eastdallasblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2010/08/the-nature-stretch-of-the-sant.html

...you would be under the impression that the bike path is ready to go with the exception of a couple little bridge spans. No. Not even close.

http://img828.imageshack.us/img828/7567/1002299.jpg

Construction has not even started on the section between Garland Road and Winstead. It will take months.

The footings for the bridges have looked like this since the spring, no construction at all.

http://img834.imageshack.us/img834/4444/1002303.jpg

Long time before it all connects. Long time. Christmas maybe?

[shaun3000]

OOOOOoooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh hhhh, I gotcha.