Council approves Dudley Branch Trail construction contract despite calls to review alternate alignment

Carrollton council on Jan. 7 approved a construction contract with Fane Group Inc. for the Dudley Branch Trail, authorizing the city manager to execute the contract awarded through the bid process.

Council Member Jason Klein asked staff to revisit an alternate alignment previously reviewed in January 2024 that staff and several council members had described as faster and cheaper. Klein and other councilors also pressed staff on creek maintenance and recent FEMA map modifications submitted in 2021 that staff said had shifted the mapped floodplain in parts of the trail corridor.

John Hoyt, the city’s director of engineering, said the bid package and contract award are based on the currently approved design; staff said the city had secured a $3 million federal/state grant and that FHWA and TxDOT had confirmed the funding would remain despite timing delays in the review process. Hoyt and other staff said change orders could occur during construction, but that an award would move the project forward and protect the grant.

Klein said he would like staff to review an alternate design and to hold a future work session on city creek maintenance; he asked that staff look at tree removal and drainage issues. Council ultimately voted to approve the contract; the motion to award was made by Klein and seconded by Palacios. The motion passed with Council Member Palomo recorded in opposition (vote tally: 6–1).