Red Line Parkway
| Red Line Parkway | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Length | 32 miles (51 km) (planned) |
| Location | Austin, Texas, United States |
| Designation | Urban trail |
| Trailheads | Downtown Austin to Leander |
| Use | Walking, cycling, recreation |
| Surface | Various (planned) |
| Website | redlineparkway |
The Red Line Parkway is a planned 32-mile (51 km) linear park and urban trail system in Austin, Texas. The project aims to create a continuous trail network following the Capital Metro Red Line commuter rail corridor from downtown Austin to Leander, Texas.[1]
History
The concept of a trail along the Red Line corridor dates back to the early 1990s, with community interest in connecting various neighborhoods and natural areas along the rail line.[2] In 2004, voters approved the Capital Metro Rail commuter line and included provisions for a right-of-way that would accommodate the Red Line Trail.[3]
Red Line Parkway Initiative
The Red Line Parkway Initiative (RLPI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2017 to advocate for and support the development of the Red Line Parkway.[4][5] The organization works to coordinate planning, construction, and stewardship efforts for the project.
Project description
The Red Line Parkway is designed as a linear park that would span approximately 32 miles, with some sources indicating the total length could reach 36 miles.[3] The trail would connect downtown Austin to Leander, passing through several communities and natural areas along the Capital Metro Red Line rail corridor.[6] The project is intended to include not only trail infrastructure but also park spaces and areas for trailside development. About half of the proposed trail is designated as a Tier I priority in the City of Austin Urban Trails Plan.[3]
Current status
As of 2021, approximately 10-20% of the Red Line Parkway has been completed or secured funding.[3] The project has received significant attention from local government, with the Austin City Council Mobility Committee regularly reviewing updates on the trail's progress.[7]
Funding
The Red Line Parkway Initiative has worked to secure both public and private funding for the project. As of 2021, the organization had nearly secured $750,000 in public funding.[8] The nonprofit launched "Project Parkway," a capital campaign seeking $250,000 in initial private funds to support development of new trail segments.[9][10]
Integration with I-35 improvement projects
The Red Line Parkway is planned to integrate with proposed Interstate 35 infrastructure improvements in Austin. Two planned highway caps over I-35 are designed to provide land bridges that would accommodate the Red Line Parkway, creating connections that bypass automobile traffic.[11]
See also
Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority
List of multi-use trails in Texas
References
- ↑ "Red Line Trail". City of Austin Texas Open Data. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
- ↑ "The Parkway". Red Line Parkway Initiative. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "The Parkway". Red Line Parkway Initiative. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
- ↑ "Creating Your Community's Signature Trail - The Beginning of the Red Line Parkway". BikeTexas. March 17, 2022. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
- ↑ "Support Red Line Parkway Initiative". Amplify Austin Day. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
- ↑ "Red Line Parkway needs private funding to build 32-mile trail connecting Leander to Downtown Austin". KVUE. November 14, 2021. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
- ↑ "A long time coming, Red Line Parkway could be completed by decade's end". Austin Monitor. January 27, 2021. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedkvue2021 - ↑ "Project Parkway". Red Line Parkway Initiative. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
- ↑ "Austin's Red Line Parkway Initiative Kicks Off 32-Mile Urban Trail Campaign". TOWERS. October 13, 2021. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
- ↑ "May 2025 Newsletter". Red Line Parkway Initiative. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
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