The Bee Cave Hike & Bike Connectivity Plan, adopted by City Council in November 2016, is a guide to provide a safe, convenient, and functional transportation network throughout the City to satisfy regular travel and recreational needs for pedestrians and cyclists.  The network is loosely configured as a hub and spoke system with a concentration of multi-use pathways in ‘town center’—i.e. the Hill Country Galleria; the Shops at the Galleria; and the area identified in the City’s Comprehensive Plan as the “Recreational Entertainment District,” generally positioned west of RR 620, south of Bee Cave Parkway, and north of Little Barton Creek (inclusive of the forthcoming Village at Spanish Oaks project)—and ‘spokes’ out to the majority of residential neighborhoods, most of which were built with their own network of sidewalks.

Update on Implementation to Date

The first phase of implementation, a ¾ mile off-road shared use path from Falconhead Blvd to Central Park roughly parallel to RR 620 and an off-road path on the south side of Bee Cave Parkway from the intersection with RR 620 to approximately .3 miles eastward, was completed in Spring 2019.

The City has been in the process of acquiring easements and approvals for Phase 2 ,which includes the following segments.  Tonight's agenda also contains items related to the acceptance of said easements, as well as acceptance of a bid for construction, which is anticipated to begin in May 2021:

• Falconhead Blvd to Lake Travis High School Shared Use Path: This .5 mile segment is a continuation of a portion of trail built in phase 1 and will use the approximate alignment of existing, narrower crushed granite path, but be improved to match the city’s preferred shared use path profile.
• Ladera Blvd Shared Use Path and crosswalk improvements:   This includes 1) a crosswalk and a 110‘ segment in the vicinity of the Ladera Blvd/Tambre Bend intersection that will complete the connection between the newly built shared use path west of Willie Way to the existing sidewalks in Ladera and 2) a .25 mile segment east of Willie Way that connects in the vicinity of Chick-Fil-A to the shared use path built in Phase 1.
•  Bee Cave Parkway, west of RR 620 Shared Use Paths:  This includes a .25 mile shared use path north of Bee Cave Parkway east of Willie to the Central Park pedestrian tunnel and a .2 mile shared use path south of Bee Cave Parkway from the RR 620 to the Central Park entrance, as well as a ramp down to the pedestrian tunnel. 
• A+ Federal Credit Union Trailhead Parking:  8-10 spot parking lot on the west side of RR 620 in the location of the Phase 1 trail construction staging area.

There are a few additional segments for which we are in the process of securing easements and were included as ‘bid alternates’ in the event permission is secured in time.  If a project listed below does not make this round of construction, we plan to include them on the 2022 round.

• Bee Cave Parkway, east of RR 620 Shared Use Path:  Improvement of the existing .4 mile trail on the south side of Bee Cave Parkway from Vista Ridge to Market Street.
• Town Center South Shared Use Path:  Improved connection between the Shops Parkway sidewalk and the amenity pond east of Plate by Dzintra and a 1 mile segment east of sculpture park to the existing low water crossing and around the stormwater ponds.

Council discussed a draft version of this updated map at their January 21, 2021 meeting.  Based on the discussion, no changes were made.  The action sought with this item is adoption, which is recommended to occur tonight to coincide with approval of bids for construction of Phase 2 and provide staff actionable direction as we prepare a draft Capital Improvement Plan for consideration by Council in June 2021.

During the last meeting, we also discussed some supporting supporting databases and maps staff has developed, such as anticipated maintenance responsibility; status as a part of the regional trail system; and recommendation for timing of construction.  This background information is not recommended to be adopted as part of the official Connectivity Plan, but rather continue to function as living, easily adaptable guide for implementation.