The Shorthorn - Greenways Inc. reveals maps for new bike and hike trails at open forum

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Greenways Inc. reveals maps for new bike and hike trails at open forum

Written by John Harden, The Shorthorn senior staff

Wednesday, 27 January 2010 09:52 PM

Tarrant County College Journalism and psychology Zachary Ford leads a pack of 18 cyclists Wednesday through Greek row. The group biked to Arlington City Hall in support of thr first hike and bike trails master plan. (The Shorthorn: Rasy Ran)

Arlington residents and city developers focused on how to make the city more personal and eco-friendly in a public open house on Wednesday.

City officials and consultant group Greenways Inc. revealed preliminary maps for a citywide walk and bike trail to the public in Arlington City Hall.

The city plans to develop a hike and bike system that will add more sidewalks and biking lanes throughout the city.

“This is about 30 years long overdue,” said architecture junior Cameron Atkins. “I want a place where I can walk to a bar and a restaurant without having to always drive there.”

Atkins said the city doesn’t provide people with the opportunity to walk and bike, and it doesn’t give residents and students the chance to travel freely.

“Arlington doesn’t feel personal to the people that live here,” he said. “Sometimes I‘d rather drive to other cities like downtown Fort Worth, which has that personal feel. I want to live in a place where I’m not trapped in my car.”

Data collected by the city was analyzed by Greenways Inc. and the company developed maps that displayed Arlington’s most disconnected areas.

The maps detailed areas that lack sufficient sidewalks and biking lanes.

Mathematics graduate student Kristen Beck, left, readies her bicycle before leaving with the group of cyclists Wednesday to Arlington City Hall (The Shorthorn: Rasy Ran)

“Our goal is to make Arlington more biker-friendly and encourage people to walk more,” said Matt Hayes, Greenways Inc. senior project manager. “From what we’re hearing, people want areas that have more connections throughout their community.”

The consultants met with the residents and noted their comments and suggestions.

“The people want a place where they can walk to their local grocer and coffee shop,” he said. “From everything we’ve collected, we can just assume that everyone wants a place where they can live without always having to drive to meet their needs.”

Sidewalks and biking lanes that dead-end in South Arlington concern resident Glenn Showers.

“The city is broken into segments,” Showers said. “You can’t walk here to there safely because of the lack of sidewalks and well-lit areas.”
Connecting the broken city trails could solve the problem, he said.

The new system will improve transportation across Arlington to parts that are not easily accessible by either bike or foot, said Alicia Winkelblech, chief transportation planning manager.

Architecture junior Cameron Atkins writes down comments on one of the city's proposed mapped trails. (The Shorthorn: Rasy Ran)

“It will be a hike and bike system that everyone can take advantage of,” she said.

Winkelblech expects completion of a master plan design for the bike system by November 2010.

“After we have a plan designed, we’ll slowly begin to piece together a timeline for construction,” she said.

Winkelblech said after designs are approved, the city’s Public Works department will begin to seek funding with a combination of grants, bonds and department resources.
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Last Updated ( Monday, 01 February 2010 10:07 PM )

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