AUSTIN, Texas — Austinites will soon have a new path to walk, hike, and bike through, which the city envisions as an alternative route to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.
On Jan. 31, state and city leaders broke ground to begin construction on the Bergstrom Spur Trail. The 6.5-mile urban trail will stretch from Vinson Drive in South Austin to East Riverside Drive and U.S. 183 in southeast Austin.
With construction already underway to transform the railroad line into the trail, concerns over the Trump administration’s federal freeze will have any impact on the project.
The administration planned to freeze nearly all federal spending, leaving lawmakers, public officials, and nonprofit groups in limbo about which grants and loans would be approved.
Recently, the city of Austin submitted a federal grant application for $25 million with a 20% funding match of $5 million. The project is also being funded through mobility bonds and park dedication fees.
“It’s a matter of clearing it out and building that path, which can provide, wonderful cycling and walking and good health opportunities for people across South Austin and really across our community,” said Congressman Lloyd Doggett.
Doggett said he cares about this project, which has taken time to come to fruition. He has already secured $4.1 million for the first phase of construction and hopes plans for the trail remain unaffected amid the federal freeze drama.
“The question is whether or not the Trump administration will approve that grant request for additional monies to extend the trail mostly east of I-35,” Doggett said. “I hope they will. It’s a great project that would be the longest trail in South Austin.”
Austin’s Transportation and Public Works Department released the following statement on the project, which reads, in part:
“The City of Austin is not aware of the freeze affecting the existing federal earmarks for the Bergstrom Spur Trail. Staff recently submitted a federal grant application for $25 million in additional funding for the trail and associated improvements. We feel this grant presents great opportunities for the trail, but ultimately the project will still be completed even if we do not receive the grant.”