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Advocates urge $30 million for Lower Colorado River Trail, call for full funding of active‑transportation projects
Summary
Public speakers at the Bond Election Advisory Task Force meeting urged large investments in trails, parks and active‑transportation projects, including a formal ask for $30 million for a Lower Colorado River Trail and repeated calls to fully fund Austin’s active‑transportation priorities.
Public testimony at the Jan. 12 Bond Election Advisory Task Force meeting centered on calls for major investments in trails and safe streets, with nonprofit and community speakers urging the task force to include active‑transportation and parkland projects in the 2026 bond package.
Mikey Guralnik of the Great Springs Project asked the task force to include $30,000,000 in the 2026 bond package for the Lower Colorado River Trail, saying, “We’re asking and recommending that the 2026 bond package include $30,000,000 for the Lower Colorado River Trail,” with “$15,000,000 … allocated to Transportation and Public Works” for construction of two key trail segments and the remaining $15,000,000 to Austin Parks and Recreation for land acquisitions to complete access below Trevino Park and above FM 973.
Julie Fisher, CEO of the Trail Conservancy, and Joanna Wolever, Executive Director of the Travis County Parks Foundation, described the proposal as a longstanding, regional initiative that would connect existing and planned trail segments and leverage county and philanthropic funds. Wolever noted the project spans both City of Austin and Travis County jurisdictions and said any city investment “would leverage significant funds from multiple jurisdictions and additional philanthropic donations.”
Other speakers pressed for strong active‑transportation funding across the bond. Alan Greenfield, Interim Executive Director of Safe Streets Austin, said the city’s strategic mobility goals require consistent investment and argued that such projects “are some of our best run programs at the city” and that continued funding would save lives and taxpayer dollars. Student speaker Josh Goldenberg said young people without car access deserve safer streets.
Representatives of advocacy groups urged the task force to fully fund the Austin Core Transportation Plan, Congress Avenue redesign, protected bike lanes, sidewalks and bus lanes with signal priority so transit can compete with driving.
The public comment block concluded before staff presentations and the rest of the agenda proceeded as scheduled.
