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Presenter outlines Central Loop Trail plan, timelines and funding
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Summary
The Parks and Open Space Board received a detailed update on the Central Loop Trail: Collin County awarded a 50% grant for the West Lucas Road segment, TxDOT will build a separate north segment as part of FM 2551 widening, and parts of the trail could take 5–15 years to complete.
The Parks and Open Space Board heard a 30‑minute presentation on the Central Loop Trail from Presenter Patrick, who described which portions of the loop are constructed, fully designed, conceptual or dependent on development and TxDOT projects.
Patrick said the West Lucas Road segment is at 100% design and that Collin County awarded a grant covering 50% of its construction. "Now that we have 100% design, we can hammer out making sure we own all the rights to all the land to actually build it," Patrick said, noting the city had to restart easement acquisition work with a new contractor.
Why it matters: the trail is intended to link major schools, parks and commercial corridors and is a spine corridor in the Collin County Trails Master Plan. Patrick told the board that TxDOT will construct the north segment as part of the FM 2551 widening and that designs do not perfectly align, so the city will need to reconcile those plans as projects advance.
Patrick gave a timeline estimate for segments: portions under TxDOT schematic or civil design could take about five years to construct while other parts tied to larger park projects could take 10–15 years. He also flagged a bridge redesign on a highway corridor that will be required to accommodate eventual six lanes of traffic, which will factor into cost and schedule.
Patrick described a canceled plan for decomposed granite surfacing at the Swinikoff Trail after engineers concluded high sheet flow and water velocity would wash the material away. "The only ways that we could engineer it to make it work...was to build all sorts of convoluted low water crossings," he said, adding the natural earthen trail is more practical in that location.
Board members asked clarifying questions about funding, maintenance and coordination with TxDOT. City staff confirmed the West Lucas Road widening project is funded and that easement acquisition efforts were being restarted with a new contractor. No formal action was required or taken on the trail at this meeting.
The board thanked Patrick for the briefing and moved on to other agenda items.
