Sugar Land, TX – The recent completion of the $3.36 million First Colony Trail project represents another milestone in meeting the community’s vision for a citywide trail system for exercise, recreation and mobility.
The project includes 10-foot wide trail connections from Lexington Boulevard and Austin Parkway to the Woodstream Trail; a below-grade crossing at Sweetwater Boulevard; and pedestrian bridges over Ditch A at the Ditch D intersection, Ditch A at Sweetwater Boulevard, Ditch C at Austin Parkway and Ditch C at Mesquite Park.
Voters approved bonds totaling $31.5 million on Nov. 5, 2013, to fund two parks projects -- development of 128 acres of new parkland along the Brazos River with an adjacent festival site and a connecting network of nearly 10 miles of hike and bike trails and bridges including the First Colony Trail project.
“This project helps create a connected trail network within the First Colony area and delivers on the promise we made to our residents in 2013,” said City Engineer Jessie Li. “Our residents have expressed a continued need to invest in trail projects that support mobility, recreation and easy access to destination locations that support the local economy. This project gets us one step closer to accomplishing this vision.”
The project is part of ongoing efforts to implement the Sugar Land Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan (now a part of the 2023 Mobility Master Plan), a document that identifies a future trail system that includes 24 miles of bike lanes, an additional 18 miles of on-street shared lanes for bicycles, and 128 miles of pedestrian and bike paths.
The plan’s network of pedestrian and bicycle routes focuses on connecting key destinations such as schools and commercial areas. In addition, the plan identifies areas for improved crossings at major barriers such as U.S. Highway 59, State Highway 6, U.S. Highway 90A, the railroad, and the Brazos River.
The plan takes advantage of the natural opportunities in the City created by drainage and flood-control devices. Their wide fringe areas, originally intended to provide space for extra flooding capacity, create unique opportunities for off-street trails.
Safe routes along roadways, drainage channels, levees and easements were identified throughout the City. Many neighborhoods, new and established, have a well used network of sidewalks; however, extra attention during the planning process focused on the protection of areas where views into homes or close proximity to fences threatened homeowner privacy. Along with these on-street routes, many residents walk and run on off-street corridors, such as areas near levees and drainage easements.
Learn more at www.sugarlandtx.gov/PedBikePlan.