Staff submitted the Dietz Creek Trail Project for pre-approval to AAMPO's FY 2025-2028 Transportation Improvement Program Call for Projects and our project was deemed eligible to advance to the formal application round for projects.  There are various funding sources for the Transportation Improvement Program "TIP" and the Transportation Alternatives Program or "TA". These programs specifically funds bicycle and pedestrian projects.  The program is a reimbursable program with the city providing a local match of 20% and federal dollars (via TxDOT) making up the other 80%.  This is the same program that city staff utilized to fund the project known as the "Schertz Pedestrian & Bike Lanes Project" which was the first section of the Great Northern Trail between Schertz Parkway and Wiederstein Road.  That project also included sidewalks along both sides of Live Oak Road (and curb and gutter) and bike lanes on Savannah Drive and Woodland Oaks Drive. 

The limits for the Dietz Creek Trail project are from just south of Wiederstein Road, crossing Savannah Drive, crossing Maske Road, and ending at Schertz Parkway where it connects to the Campus Trail on the other side of the Parkway.  

This is a competitive call for projects and once the application is submitted the project will be scored by the AAMPO Transportation Advisory Committee in September 2023 before going into a public involvement stage in October 2023 where citizen input helps make projects more competitive.  Final project selection will take place in December 2023 and final action to approve the FY 2025-2028 TIP will take place in May 2024.  

The goal is to develop the West Dietz Creek Trail as part of the Schertz Trails network.  Hike and bike trails have been listed by residents as the top need for parks and recreation activities in both the Parks Master Plan and Citizen Satisfaction Surveys.  

The community will benefit from having additional miles of trail to utilize for recreation.  Recreational trails provide space for people to get active and stay healthy - both physically and mentally.  

Approve Resolution 23-R-81.

City staff is working on finalizing the engineer's estimate for project costs, but initial calculations are no more than $1,250,000.00 for 1.76 miles of 10-foot wide concrete trail and pedestrian crossing systems where the trail crosses intersections. The city's 20% match of $250,000 is coming from specifically allocated Trail Development funds in the Parks & Recreation General Fund Budget.

Approve Resolution 23-R-81.