Previously known as the Bicycle Facilities and Trailways Plan, the initial steps for the Active Transportation Plan were presented at the Feb. 7 City Council meeting.
“This program is designed to create a visionary plan that connects all active transportation elements to create a [city] that is more accessible and usable by all ages and abilities in Richardson,” said Jessica Schutt, mobility and special projects manager for the city.
The plan integrates multiple forms of transportation, including pedestrian and bike pathways as well as access to transit and micro-mobility, such as scooters and e-bikes.
As part of the project, the city will seek public input on potential issues and needs. Residents can share their opinions via an online survey, surveys distributed at public facilities or stakeholder interviews. In addition, the city plans to hold an open house and set up information booths at public facilities and events.
The city's goal is to have a final plan adopted by City Council in early 2023. Next steps include beginning a needs assessment, holding the first committee meeting in late February and building a project website. The city also hopes to launch the community survey in March and hold open houses and stakeholder meetings over the next few months.
Mayor Paul Voelker said he hopes adding options beyond automobiles will help economic growth areas such as The IQ.
“I really appreciate the multimodal approach that this study is going to take,” Voelker said. “There is no one approach that is going to help any particular broad organization group. Multimodal is the answer in achieving that. I want to have access to that as a local company, especially one that's in The IQ, which I believe will become a showcase for transit-oriented development."
Richardson’s existing infrastructure is estimated to include 87 miles of hard surface trails, six miles of soft surface trails and over 22 miles of bike lanes, according to the city. Schutt said this infrastructure is maintained well, but that many facilities prohibit all ages and abilities from using them.
Recent city studies and community feedback emphasize a need for better integration and connectivity of the full transportation network, especially related to connecting residents to the Richardson IQ and the CORE, Schutt said.
The project is led through the transportation and mobility department in collaboration with the Parks and Recreation department and Development Services.
Mayor Pro Tem Janet DePuy said these plans provide a great opportunity for travel to cover that first and last mile of residents' trips.
“It's expensive to build rail lines east and west, which we don't have,” DePuy said. “The Silver Line [rail line under construction by Dallas Area Rapid Transit] will be helpful, but it won’t take me from my house to my job. Unless you work downtown, your commute options are limited.”
