Thursday, August 12, 2010

The City of Wichita’s Redbud Bicycle Trail project was selected for federal funding through the Kansas Department of Transportation’s (KDOT’s) Transportation Enhancement program. The project will receive more than $2.3 million to construct a multiple-use pathway for walking, bicycling, jogging, and other activities. More than fifty applications were submitted to KDOT for consideration.

The 2.5-mile Redbud Bicycle Trail will extend from the I-135 bike path at Murdock Street northeast to the WSU campus at 1800 N. Oliver. The Trail will include a ten-foot wide concrete path, a pedestrian bridge crossing the I-135 canal, and improvements to Piatt, Grove, and Green Streets where the streets intersect the Trail.

The Redbud Bicycle Trail will be built within the former BNSF railroad corridor, which was originally developed as part of the St. Louis & San Francisco Railway. This railroad corridor is the second oldest corridor in Wichita, originally constructed as an extension from Oswego, Kansas, in 1879.

Federal funds will pay for 70% of the cost while 30% will come from City funds. The Trail will pass near six City parks, multiple employment centers and will connect to the City’s existing bicycle path network.