Transportation committee reviews Dallas Bike Plan 2025 update; public comment set for late Feb–Mar

The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for the City of Dallas on Jan. 21, 2025 heard a status update on the Dallas Bike Plan 2025 and was told staff expects a public comment period from late February through late March, with incorporation of comments in April and a planned presentation to city council in May for adoption.

Dr. Gus Concarli, director of transportation and public works, told the committee staff "are ready to finalize this plan and bring it to council" in the coming months and reviewed plan objectives, a three‑phase implementation schedule and an amendment process that would send changes to the city council annually after public comment and input from the Bicycle Advisory Committee.

The update lays out an all‑ages-and‑abilities network and new design standards. Staff said the plan assumes a phased buildout: a five‑year Phase 1 of 83 miles that would bring the network to 231 miles, Phase 2 with 197 miles (total 428 miles) on a 20‑year horizon, and Phase 3 with 331 miles for a final total of 760 miles. Staff noted some existing facilities—largely shared‑lane markings or "sharrows"—are recommended for removal if they do not meet the comfort standards for the updated network. Catherine Rush, chief planner, and the bike program manager (listed in the transcript as Miss Scott) joined Concarli for the presentation.

Staff emphasized implementation measures intended to accelerate delivery: dedicating funding for bike projects, two on‑call engineering contracts, reassigning an engineering position to the bike program, development of plug‑and‑play facility design standards, standardized before‑and‑after evaluations of projects, improved public messaging, and closer coordination between resurfacing schedules and bike project timing. The presentation cited best practices from the Federal Highway Administration and the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO).

Several council members asked for greater specificity and faster timelines for projects in their districts. Council Member Rezendes said the plan's long horizons were a concern for constituents and urged staff to move with more urgency, saying, "I just feel like we gotta have a lot more urgency than 20 years." Council Member Atkins and Vice Chair Gracie pressed staff on connectivity in western and southern parts of the city, including links to the Loop Trail, University Hills and areas near the University of North Texas. Staff noted specific projects already funded or in progress (examples cited in the presentation included Seventh Street to link the Davis Street project to Bishop Arts; Ewing to connect South Dallas to Southern Gateway Deck Park; and a White Rock Creek Trail link to Preston Ridge Trail) and said the Wheatland project is fully funded and moving into right‑of‑way acquisition.

On the amendment process, Concarli said the plan will include criteria for evaluating requested changes—directness, comfort and connectivity—and that requested amendments would be reviewed by the Bicycle Advisory Committee and returned to city council on an annual basis following public comment. Staff recommended maintaining the Bicycle Advisory Committee as either a formal committee or an informal working group, meeting quarterly and potentially consolidated with the existing micromobility working group.

Committee members asked how staff would present the plan to the public and how staff would ensure outreach explains why some existing facilities might be removed. Catherine Rush described a data‑driven approach with robust stakeholder outreach and said staff will provide more detailed project lists and GIS overlays showing where resurfacing or bond projects create opportunities to add bike facilities. Rush noted the appendix (slide 21 in the presentation) breaks down the methodology and funding assumptions used to develop the 20‑year estimate for Phase 2.

The committee did not take a vote on the bike plan itself at the Jan. 21 meeting; staff characterized the session as a final staff briefing before a public comment period. The meeting record shows one formal action earlier in the meeting: approval of the Dec. 3, 2024 minutes, which was moved, seconded and approved on a voice vote.

Next steps listed in the presentation: release the revised draft for public comment in late February through late March 2025, incorporate comments in April, and bring the revised plan to city council in May 2025 for consideration of adoption.

Votes at a glance: The committee approved the Dec. 3, 2024 minutes (motion moved and seconded; voice vote recorded as "ayes have it"); no other formal votes on the bike plan occurred during the Jan. 21 status update meeting.