$5M in federal funds secured for Walnut Creek Trail extension

U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett announced May 19 that he secured $5 million in federal funding for the Walnut Creek Trail extension project.

Once complete, the trail will span 19 miles and connect Govalle Neighborhood Park in east Austin to Balcones District Park in north Austin. The project as a whole is being funded through the 2016 and 2020 Mobility Bonds.

While the northern and southern portions of the trail are complete, an 8-mile gap remains. The newly secured federal funds will help complete the 3.5-mile gap from Southern Walnut Creek Trail to Braker Lane, said Emily Smith, Austin Public Works’ senior public information specialist, in an email.

The project timeline will have to be adjusted as projects that receive federal funding must go through additional environmental compliance reviews per the National Environmental Policy Act, she said.

Smith also noted that the next portions of the Walnut Creek Trail are to be completed dependent upon ongoing coordination with partner agencies in order to best leverage funding.

Currently, in-progress and proposed sections of the project include:

• Northern Walnut Creek Trail Section 2B (Walnut Bluffs Trailhead to I-35; in progress)
• Northern Walnut Creek Trail Section 3 (I-35 to Southern Walnut Creek Trail; in progress)
• Southern Walnut Creek Trail La Loma Trail Connector (proposed)

• Southern Walnut Creek Trail (Govalle Park to Johnny Morris Road/Daffen Lane)
• Northern Walnut Creek Trail (Balcones District Park to Oakbrook Drive)
• Copperfield Connector Trail (Thompkins Drive to Shropshire Lane)