The City-Wide Trails Master Plan (CWTMP) was adopted by Council on May 25, 2021. The development of a trail system along Beltway Drive between Marsh Lane and Belt Line Road is included in the Plan's Phase I recommendations which are slated to be completed within the first five years of the date of adoption. At its December 14 meeting, the Council approved a contract with Moore Iacofano Goltsman (MIG) to complete a conceptual design of the Beltway Drive Trail Project. MIG's proposal includes public engagement strategies, including public feedback opportunities, and cost estimating in addition to the development of the conceptual design for the project.
The CWTMP recommendations for the Beltway Drive Trail Project were based on community input which indicated a need for bike lanes, improved internal circulation in neighborhoods, and a strong desire to make neighborhood connections to regional trails. The CWTMP recommends the following trail improvements along Beltway Drive:
- Buffered Bike Lanes between Marsh Lane and Midway Road.
- Bike Boulevard between Midway Road and Belt Line Road.
- Wide Sidewalk with Buffer from the Redding Trail heading east to Belt Line Road.
In addition to the proposed trail improvements for Beltway Drive, the CWTMP also recommends the development of Trail Signage and Wayfinding Standards. Once developed, the Trail Signage Wayfinding Standards will also be applied to all future trail signage projects. The project includes Linear Open Space Planning of the area south of Addison Grove, often referred to as Sam's Park, to improve connectivity and to refresh the green space. Other tasks in the project will be to establish what portions of the existing sidewalk should remain and be integrated into the trail system and what portions should be removed and replaced to meet the trail typologies defined in the CWTMP.
The funding for the conceptual plan is included in the FY2022 budget. However, funds have not yet been identified to implement the improvements identified in MIG's conceptual plan.