Local · Trusted · Free
The Morning Impact — your neighborhood's most important stories, delivered every morning.
Phase 5 of the MoKan Trail project is underway, per a recent Austin Transportation and Public Works update.
The project aims to improve walking and biking connections in East Austin.
The details
According to Austin TPW, city of Austin crews began installing a shared-use trail segment and bridge over Boggy Creek in January as part of Phase 5 of the project. Additional safety improvements at the Springdale Road crossing east of the bridge are slated to begin in late September.
Construction on this section is expected to be complete this fall and will close a "key gap" in the trail, officials said.
The $5.6 million phase is being funded by the 2020 Mobility Bond and Community Project Funding secured by U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett.
About the project
The MoKan Trail will follow a section of the former Missouri-Kansas-Texas, or MoKan, Railroad. Once complete, the 1.5-mile trail will connect to an existing bike path on Pedernales Street to the Southern Walnut Creek Trail system.
Per city information, the project was identified as a needed trail connection in the 2014 Urban Trails Plan and was designated as a high-priority trail in 2021. While a private developer built a 0.25-mile section of the trail that opened in January 2023, the city is developing the rest of the 0.75-mile section in five phases.
According to city officials, Phases 1, 2, 3A and 4 are complete. Phase 3B is currently in the design phase, and construction is expected to begin this fall.
