Katy Trail Alternative Route
The purpose of this survey is to identify a potential preferred alignment and bicycle facility type for a connection between the American Airlines Center and Mockingbird Station area, somewhat parallel to the popular Katy Trail. This route is intended to provide a comfortable alternative for cyclists who want to avoid the crowded and slower conditions of the Katy Trail.
Your feedback will be used to select a recommended route to include in the Dallas Bike Plan Update.,
Public Meeting Recording 5.29.24
Route Options
Each street offers a set of unique challenges to designing safe, continuous bike infrastructure. From the width of the public right of way and what type of bike facilities fit, to the frequency of curb cuts and driveways, the design of intersections, and one-way streets, many considerations can make one route preferable to another route.
Consider the options below, taking into consideration the various characteristics that would impact the experience of traveling on each route (as a person biking or scootering), or traveling beside each route (as a person driving a car), to determine which would be preferable. Then complete the 2-minute survey below.
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Pros:
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High quality, lower stress facility along Turtle Creek and through Reverchon Park
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Fewer impacts to traffic (except on Avondale and Fitzhugh)
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Few stops for bicyclists to cross traffic if facility is a two-way cycle track next to Turtle Creek Park
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Closer to Oak Lawn & Cedar Springs destinations and neighborhoods
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Cons:
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Limited connections to Uptown destinations (e.g., West Village, State Thomas, McKinney Ave, etc.)
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Constructability of tunnel or bridge connection from Reverchon Park to Houston Street is unknown, but likely high cost. Tunnels and bridges create concerns about personal safety.
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Replacing automobile lanes on Houston Street north of American Airlines Center has been opposed by the AAC in past.
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Wayfinding for bicyclists could be a challenge (7 turns between Cole @ Harwood and Houston @ All Star Way)
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Route 1: Turtle Creek / Route by SMU Students
Route 2: Travis / Carlisle
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Pros:
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Lowest cost option to implement
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Fewer impacts to traffic
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Good access to Uptown destinations
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Cons:
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Lower comfort level than other options (more sections where bicyclists share the road with cars)
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Many stops for bicyclists to cross traffic (though this could be managed through the design of the Bicycle Boulevard)
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Wayfinding for bicyclists could be a challenge (8 turns between Cole @ Harwood and Houston @ All Star Way)
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Route 3: McKinney / Cole
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Pros:
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Great access to Uptown destinations
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Fewer turns, better wayfinding for bicyclists (5 turns between Cole @ Harwood and Houston @ All Star Way)
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Cons:
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It may not be possible to implement this option with the funded two-way conversion of McKinney and Cole ($50 million project under design)
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Less right of way for cars on McKinney and Cole could significantly impact congestion or may need to replace on-street parking
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High cost to implement a high-comfort facility on these streets
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Route 4: Katy Trail Widening
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Pros:
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No turns for bicyclists, good wayfinding
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No impacts to traffic
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Cons:
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Significant cost (rebuilding bridges, retaining walls, possible right-of-way acquisition)
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Impacts to parks/waterways and utilities
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Potential right-of-way acquisition needs – impacts to properties along the trail
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Would still be difficult to keep pedestrians out of the bicycle space and vice versa
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