A construction funding agreement in place with Dallas County has set into motion a 1.5-mile extension of Duck Creek Trail in Richardson.

On Monday, Aug. 20, Richardson City Council members approved the agreement, which says Dallas County and the city of Richardson will split the local share cost of $1.8 million. The federal government will also contribute $2.1 million, bringing the total cost of the project to $3.9 million.

Richardson plans to pay its share using a combination of capital reserves and 2017 certificate of obligation funds, according to Director of Parks & Recreation Lori Smeby.

The existing 1.3-mile trail begins at North Jupiter Road and progresses northwest through its namesake greenway before ending at North Plano Road. An continuance of the trail would move it north toward Arapaho Road, where it will head west before dropping down into the Duck Creek greenway. After traveling along the creek, the trail would travel north toward Glenville Drive and eventually end at Collins Boulevard.

Smeby said the department is considering amenities along the trail and ways that it could contribute to the city's planned Collins-Arapaho Transit-Oriented Development.

"There is a lot of opportunity for public realm experiences in this [Collins-Arapaho TOD] study alone, and the Duck Creek Trail extension stands to bring a lot of activation to those spaces," she said.

Engineering and design on the extension is currently underway, Smeby said. Next steps include Dallas County commissioner approval of the agreement as well as completion and receipt of the Texas Department of Transportation's review. The department anticipates a yearlong construction timeline beginning in summer or fall of 2019.