Bergstrom Spur Urban Trail: Western + Central Segments
60% Design Virtual Open House
Thank you for visiting the 60% design virtual open house for the Bergstrom Spur Trail’s Western and Central Segments. Scroll down to learn about this project and take a survey to share your feedback with the project team.
To request a hard copy of this open house by mail, please email MobilityBonds@austintexas.gov or call (512) 974-7182.
Para solicitar información en español enviar un correo electrónico a MobilityBonds@austintexas.gov o llame por teléfono al (512) 974-7182.
Background 🛤️
Austin Public Works is developing an abandoned rail corridor into an urban trail for people walking and biking. The Bergstrom Spur Urban Trail will span approximately 6.5 miles and connect Vinson Drive in south Austin to US-183 in southeast Austin. Public Works’ Urban Trails Program is managing the project through all phases of design, construction, and inspection.
Illustrated map of the overall project limits.
The Bergstrom Spur Trail will be developed as three segments: Western, Central and Eastern. Once complete, the three segments will function and feel like a cohesive, continuous trail.
This open house is for the Western and Central segments. An open house for the Eastern segment will follow.
The Bergstrom Spur Trail was identified as a high-priority project for bicycle and pedestrian connectivity in the City of Austin’s 2014 Urban Trails Plan and 2019 Austin Strategic Mobility Plan .
In 2019, PWD’s Urban Trails Program partnered with the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) to develop the Bergstrom Spur Corridor Study . The study examined existing conditions along the Bergstrom Spur, developed concepts for building an urban trail for walking and biking along the corridor, and considered opportunities to incorporate transit in the future.
PERs 📋
Prior to construction, major capital projects go through two key phases: preliminary engineering and design.
During preliminary engineering, the project team uses technical analysis and community input to create a project concept. A Preliminary Engineering Report (PER) reflects an initial outline of recommended project elements. PERs for Urban Trails Program projects also recommend a specific project alignment. Multiple City departments review a PER to ensure that a proposed project follows all relevant plans, policies, and standards before a design process begins.
In Spring 2022, Austin Public Works released PERs for the Western and Central segments of the Bergstrom Spur Trail. The PERs were informed by community input received through the Bergstrom Spur Corridor Study process.
Design Phase 📐
During the design phase, the project team continues to gather community input and coordinate across City departments as they refine project plans. Major capital projects go through multiple phases of design – from 30% to 60% to 90% complete – before they are finalized and the project goes to bid for construction. Tackling the project design in phases allows for timely public input and revisions at key stages of design development.
The Bergstrom Spur Trail’s Western and Central segments are currently at 60% design.
60% Design: Western 🚶♀️
In partnership with Austin Transportation and Austin Parks and Recreation , the Bergstrom Spur Trail project team has used the concepts for the Western and Central trail segments from their respective PERs to refine draft designs.
Scroll down for an overview of new design details included in the 60% design plans for the Western segment of the Bergstrom Spur Trail.
Note: the illustrated renderings below are conceptual and subject to change.
Project Limits
This map illustrates the Western segment's project limits in context of the overall Bergstrom Spur Trail project limits.
The Western segment of the Bergstrom Spur Trail will span approximately 1.12 miles and connect existing bike lanes on Vinson Drive to South Congress Avenue.
This trail segment will provide access to St. David's South Austin Medical Center, St. Elmo Elementary School and Park, and Capital Metro's South Congress Transit Center.
The Western Segment's project limits follow the abandoned rail corridor between Vinson Drive and South Congress Avenue.
Typical Cross Sections
Typical cross sections are illustrated representations of how a trail will look and feel at the ground level for trail users. They depict the planned width and location of trail elements including shared use paths, separated sidewalks and/or bike paths.
Scroll down for an overview of the typical cross sections included in the 60% design plans for the Western segment of the Bergstrom Spur Trail.
Vinson Drive Typical Cross Section
The portion of trail along Vision Drive will be a shared use path that varies in width between 8 feet wide and 13 feet wide.
Main Trail Typical Cross Section
From approximately 4498 Vinson Drive to South Congress Avenue, the trail will feature a 12-foot-wide, two-way bike path and an 8-foot sidewalk separated by a grass median.
Street Crossings
The Western segment of the Bergstrom Spur Trail will intersect with seven existing city streets. The project team is partnering with Austin Transportation to develop intersection crossing designs intended to prioritize safety for all users.
Scroll through the map below to compare aerial illustrations of the proposed intersection designs for the Western segment with existing conditions on the ground.
60% Design: Central 🚴
Project Limits
In partnership with Austin Transportation , the Bergstrom Spur Trail project team has used the concepts for the Western and Central trail segments from their respective PERs to refine draft designs.
Scroll down for an overview of new design details included in the 60% design plans for the Central segment.
Note: the illustrated renderings below are conceptual and subject to change.
This map illustrates the Central segment's project limits in context of the overall Bergstrom Spur Trail project limits.
The Central segment of the Bergstrom Spur Trail Network will span approximately 1.85 miles and connect South Congress Avenue to Todd Lane.
This segment will provide access to several industrial, commercial, and residential destinations south of East Ben White Boulevard.
The Central segment's project limits follow the abandoned rail corridor between South Congress Avenue and Todd Lane.
Typical Cross Section
Typical cross sections are illustrated representations of how a trail will look and feel at the ground level for trail users. They depict the planned width and location of trail elements including shared use paths, separated sidewalks and/or bike paths.
Scroll down for an overview of the typical cross sections included in the 60% design plans for the Central segment of the Bergstrom Spur Trail.
Central Segment Typical Cross Section
The majority of the Central segment of the trail will feature a 12-foot, two-way bike path and an 8-foot sidewalk separated by a grass median.
Constrained Typical Cross Section
Several short sections of the Central segment are constrained due to the location of trees or existing infrastructure. In these areas, the trail will feature 12-foot, two-way bike path and a parallel 8-foot sidewalk without a median in between.
Constrained (with Handrail) Typical Cross Section
A half-block long section of trail just west of South Industrial Drive is constrained due to existing drainage infrastructure and steep slopes. In this area, the trail will feature handrails on both sides 12-foot, two-way bike path and a parallel 8-foot sidewalk without a median in between.
Willow Springs Spur Typical Cross Section
A short connector trail will link the intersection of Willow Springs Road and Industrial Boulevard to the segment of trail between South Congress Avenue and Terry-O Lane. This connector trail will be a 16-foot-wide shared used path for people walking, biking, and rolling.
Street Crossings
The Central segment of the Bergstrom Spur Trail will intersect with 10 existing city streets or TxDOT frontage roads. The project team is partnering with Austin Transportation to develop intersection crossing designs intended to prioritize safety for all users.
Scroll through the map below to compare aerial illustrations of the proposed intersection designs for the Central segment with existing conditions on the ground.
Survey 📝
The Bergstrom Spur Trail project team wants to hear from you! Are we on the right track?
Share your feedback: take our 60% design survey by Sunday October 30, 2022.
Art in Public Places
By City of Austin ordinance, 2% of eligible capital improvement project budgets are allocated to site-specific artwork. The City’s Art in Public Places program (AIPP) collaborates with residents and artists to incorporate public art into major capital projects.
AIPP is launching a community engagement process for new public art to be funded by the Bergstrom Spur Trail Project. The project survey above includes questions about what kind of art residents want to see along the Western and Central segments of the trail.
If you would be interested in serving as a paid advisor on an AIPP artist selection panel, please contact Curt Gettman at curt.gettman@austintexas.gov .
What's Next? ⏭️
Project Timeline
The project team will use this community feedback to inform the developing designs for the Western and Central segments of the Bergstrom Spur Urban Trail project. The designs are expected to be finalized by Spring 2023.
The Eastern segment has not yet reached 60% design; the project teams expects to host another open house and comment period for the Eastern segment in Summer 2023.
The complete trail is expected to be constructed by 2026.
