Council advances $849,000 design contract for sidewalks and shared-use paths; Northgate funding and mailboxes flagged

College Station approved a design contract with Collier Engineering & Design to prepare plans for eight sidewalk segments and three 10-foot shared-use paths across the city. Council heard that the $849,049.39 design contract covers sidewalk segments identified by the Hike & Bike/Greenways advisory board and three trail segments that frequently follow creek corridors. Jason Schubert of Planning and Development Services told council most proposed sidewalks are intended to fit within existing public right-of-way and will be surveyed; some trail segments may require easements or acquisition. Councilmembers raised concerns about specific neighborhoods and priorities. Councilmember McElhaney pressed staff on whether sidewalks would be placed behind homes through alleys or along front yards; stakeholders warned about privacy concerns if routes ran behind houses. Staff said the project will survey plats and right-of-way to avoid purchasing new easements in most locations; some trail segments across private property may require acquisition. Northgate advocates told council they wanted more near-term sidewalk funding for University Drive and other Northgate small-area-plan priority projects. Council and staff noted the citywide sidewalk allocation is intended to "fill gaps" across many neighborhoods; larger capital projects such as a dedicated Northgate pedestrian project could be funded separately. Justin Hauck, speaking during public input, urged dedicating construction funds for a Northgate sidewalk on University Drive from Wilburn to the Dixie Chicken from the city's FY2026 sidewalk allocation. Design details discussed included buffer zones versus curbside sidewalks, accommodation for mailboxes and lighting. Staff said buffers can allow mailboxes to be placed without blocking routes and that the design phase would consider post office coordination and lighting as a later design task. Council also asked staff to consider alleys and utility corridors as potential alignments where appropriate. The council approved the sidewalk/shared-use path design contract as part of the consent agenda vote.