The Regional Transportation Council (RTC) has approved a substantial investment of $74 million to enhance bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure across North Texas. At its meeting on June 12, the RTC allocated $59.6 million in federal funding, supplemented by $14.4 million in local matching funds, for 12 active transportation projects within Collin, Dallas, Denton, and Tarrant counties.
This significant investment, part of the 2025 Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside Program Call for Projects, aims to create safer and more accessible options for walkers and cyclists throughout the region. Nine active transportation projects and three Safe Routes to School applications received funding.
"These funded improvements will connect people who choose walking and bicycling as modes of transportation to schools, transit services and major hubs of employment in the Dallas-Fort Worth area,” said Kevin Kokes, program manager for the North Central Texas Council of Governments’ land-use and mobility options team. “In addition to connecting people to destinations, the projects funded by the RTC will improve safety and comfort, reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality.”
Key projects include:
- Addison: On-street bicycle facilities will connect the future Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) Silver Line commuter rail station with nearby housing and employment centers.
- Carrollton: $10 million will extend the T.C. Rice Trail, linking the Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA) A-train Rail Trail from Hebron Station in Lewisville closer to the North Carrollton/Frankford Station.
- Denton: The Sycamore Trail extension will improve access for neighborhoods to DCTA’s Downtown Denton Transit Center, facilitating multimodal trips.
- Frisco: Funding will support two new trail segments: a portion of the Cottonwood Creek Trail and a trail connecting Frisco Square, Downtown Frisco, and Grand Park.
- Fort Worth: Shared-use paths and on-street bicycle facilities will enhance connections to North Crowley High School and Summer Creek Middle School, improving safety for students.
- Richland Hills: Sidewalk improvements are funded to enable more students to walk to Cheney Hills Elementary School.
- Richardson: The city received funding to develop Safe Routes to School plans, identifying future infrastructure improvements for multiple schools.
These projects are expected to not only enhance connectivity but also promote public health, reduce carbon emissions, and ease traffic congestion by offering viable alternatives to vehicle travel.
