I was part of a 25-person group of San Angelo residents who met on June 4th, 2004 to begin discussing current and future needs for non-motorized transportation
infrastructure such as bike/pedestrian paths and trails in San Angelo.This forward-thinking group realized that San Angelo lagged far behind other communities related to bike paths, sidewalks and related venues for cycling, running and fitness.
Subsequent meetings of that group, working with the regional Metropolitan Planning Organization, resulted in San Angelo's City Council contracting with the Wilber Smith Associates consultant group to develop a comprehensive Bike/Pedestrian plan for the city (sanangelompo.org/plans.php).
The consultant group's report listed the construction of a multiuse bike and pedestrian trail through the Red Arroyo 'greenbelt' area as being one of the first projects that San Angelo residents wanted the city to complete.
More than a decade after the initial focus group meeting was held, construction has finally started on that trail project with the projected completion date being mid-July 2015.
Although the Red Arroyo trail is the first major project being done as part of the Bike/Pedestrian plan implementation, it's much more than just a paved trail.
The final product will be a 'remodeled' open space area stretching from Sherwood Way to Knickerbocker Blvd that includes approximately 4 miles of meandering 14 foot wide concrete paths providing recreational and non-motorized transportation routes for cyclists, runners and walkers.
Karl Bednarz, PE, the manager of the Engineering Services Division for the city, notes that the overall trail project will include three major trailhead access points at Sul Ross, Millbrook and Unidad Park, seven neighborhood trail access points, a restroom located at Unidad Park, five bridges across the arroyo, multiple storm water detention ponds and park benches at selected locations.
"We’ve started the pond excavation, sidewalk construction, parking lot construction at Unidad Park and bridge foundation placement," says Bednarz. "Pond excavation should be completed by mid March, sidewalk construction by the end of April, bridge construction by mid March and the parking lots by mid February."
"Concrete trail construction will begin early April and be completed by early June, and the contractor is scheduled to wrap up the entire project by mid July 2015."
If you want to view the trail route and location of associated infrastructure, go to cosatx.us/departments-services/engineering-services and click on the link at the bottom right "Red Arroyo preliminary plan."
Money from several sources is being used to fund the Red Arroyo project.
"The overall project contract price is $3,870,893," says Bednarz. "Approximately 80% is funded by a Federal Transportation Enhancement Grant and 20% is funded by the City of San Angelo (approximately $325,000 from ½ cent sales tax funds designated for general park improvements and $475,000 from storm water funds)."
When completed, this project will help support San Angelo's on-going transformation to a more active community where residents spend time engaged in healthy outdoor exercise.
You'll see people on the trail as they bike commute or walk to school or work, families 'hitting the pavement' for an evening stroll, mothers pushing baby carriages along the route and groups using the trail for run/walk events.
The construction of the Red Arroyo trail may also lead to the implementation of other initiatives that leverage the paths and associated open space.
Businesses and schools near the arroyo (such as Angelo State University) will be able to establish bike/pedestrian routes from their location to the nearest trailhead, a dog park has been proposed adjacent to the trail in the arroyo and off-road cyclists and runners are envisioning a network of dirt paths through the Red Arroyo open space.
One additional benefit of the project is that the Red Arroyo trail, when completed, could relieve some of the congestion on the KOA loop by providing current KOA loop runners and walkers with an alternative car-free place to exercise.
The Red Arroyo trail is a positive step toward making San Angelo a more bikeable and walkable city, and it's the first of what will hopefully be many bike/pedestrian projects that serve all parts of our community.
Remember - the vision developed by that bike/pedestrian committee ten years ago is starting to become a reality.
Upcoming Events
Dec 13: Run Rudolph Run, conchochristmascelebration.com/additional-activities
Now-Jan 4: Texas Cup cyclocross series: http://txbra.org/events
January 3: Resolution Run, roadlizards.org/events/ecvfd-resolution-run-2015/
Jan 7-11: Cyclocross National Championships, usacycling.org/2015/cyclo-cross-nationals
Jan 17-Feb 21: Trail Running Series, roadlizards.org
