Trinity Strand Trail
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The Trinity Strand Trail is 7.8-mile, hike/bike commuter and recreational trail that will run along the course of the original Trinity River in Dallas, Texas (USA), also known as Old Meanders. This part of the Trinity River flows through the heart of the Dallas Design District.
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[edit] About
The location of the “Strand” plays a key part of the redevelopment vision for the Trinity River Corridor Project. The Strand will connect the Katy Trail to the Trinity River Levee Trail and the entire Trinity River Greenbelt. This unites many Dallas, Texas (USA) neighborhoods and offers pedestrians, cyclists, and commuters access to many business districts, in addition to the obvious recreational benefits of the trail.
[edit] Organization Information and History
In 2002, a group of dedicated individuals formed the Friends of the Trinity Strand Trail, a nonprofit corporation to spearhead the planning, construction and enhancement of a 7.8 mile non-motorized hike and bike trail along the original Trinity River watercourse. This commuter and recreational trail will connect the Katy Trail to the Trinity River and also provide Dallas citizens access to the Southwestern Medical District, Dallas Market Center, Stemmons Corridor businesses and the Dallas Design District. The trail will consist of 5.6 miles of paved concrete trail and 2.2 miles of soft surface trail, 10 bridges and 16 trailheads. The trail will connect 4.7 miles of existing and 7.9 miles of future sidewalks for a total of 20.4 total miles of non-motorized interconnected trails, bridges and sidewalks with a build-out cost of $26 million.
The trail will not only reduce traffic congestion by providing an alternate method to commute to and from work, but it will also improve air quality, provide recreation and transportation opportunities for Dallas citizens and visitors to the city, promote ecotourism, and restore the natural wildlife habitat along the original meanders of the Trinity River. Additionally, the trail will present an opportunity for education and instruction by providing a nature preserve consisting of native wildflowers and grasses. It will also attract new business and residential projects to the neighborhood, which has been predominantly industrial and mostly forgotten until now. The Trinity Strand Trail will greatly enhance the range and benefits of the Katy Trail and Trinity River Levee Trails by providing a non-motorized route for Dallas residents and visitors to travel easily from either the Katy Trail (through Stemmons Park) or from Victory Plaza (along Hi Line Drive) to the many miles of levee trails.
[edit] Recent Accomplishments
Engineering and construction plans are 60% complete, and we held our groundbreaking ceremony with Mayor Tom Leppert in May 2008 at our first trailhead, Turtle Creek Plaza. The Strand was featured on WFAA November 18, 2008 with extensive footage showing the existing river channel. We have been designated part of the Dallas County Veloweb Trail System and in January 2009 we received the Tales of Texas Planning/Design Award from Texas Trails Network. The master plan was adopted in July 2004 by the Dallas Park and Recreation Board and the Dallas City Council, and we obtained city park designation from the Dallas City Council in 2004.
The Trinity Strand Trail has also partnered with the Friends of the Katy Trail to connect both trails at Goat Hill. The land donation at Goat Hill, valued at $2 million, was secured in November 2007. The feasibility study and initial design work was completed with funding from both trails. Given that the Trinity Strand Trail is the people’s link from the Katy Trail to the Trinity River, our project has become increasingly more important in the eyes of the community.
Construction on our first trailhead at Turtle Creek Plaza will begin April 2009. At our plaza, we will have a tall pole with a blue mark signifying the water height of the 1908 Dallas flood which dictated the building of the Trinity River levees. We will also have two cylindrical bases on each side of the pole with historical facts and information for visitors.
In addition, the City of Dallas has allocated $4 million in Design District TIF funds and $3.5 million in city bond money to this project. In August 2008, the North Central Texas Council of Governments designated a $4 million grant to the Trinity Strand Trail. Furthermore, the Trinity Strand Trail has garnered financial support from individuals and foundations totaling $210,000 and $350,000, respectively. We have also been successful in gathering financial support, as well as land donations and easements, for the project from landowners both abutting and in the vicinity of the future trail’s path.
[edit] Market and Customers
The Trinity Strand Trail will serve the Dallas area’s 13+ hotels which supply 1 million available room nights each year. The trail will also serve the 170,000 employees of major companies and smaller businesses in the area. In addition, there is an estimated 1,600 residential dwelling units which currently exist or are under construction. This project facilitates active lifestyles and provides appealing, safe transportation alternatives to these urban residents and commuters with connections to existing sidewalks and improved access to the TRE and expanding DART rail system. Furthermore, the Katy Trail has more than 13,000 participants per week. With the Trinity Strand Trail/Katy Trail connection, it is estimated that the majority of those recreational users will also utilize the Trinity Strand Trail.
Notably, the Trinity Strand Trail will serve the Southwestern Medical Center community and has been recently contacted to work with Southwestern Medical Center, Children's Medical Center and Parkland Hospital to build a trail through this area. All three hospitals have formed a planning committee for this trail and are also on the agenda for the next bond election.
