PHOTO #1: This map shows a proposed pedestrian and cyclist trail in the area of Guy Grant and Mockingbird.
Residents are invited to share their comments on a proposed multi-use trail in the area of Guy Grant Road and Mockingbird Lane to help boost the City’s application for a grant to help fund the project.
The City is applying for a Transportation Alternatives grant from the Texas Department of Transportation worth about $1.2 million to fund a trail from the intersection of Guy Grant Road and Gettysburg Drive to the Lone Tree Creek Hike & Bike Trail.
The proposed trail will follow Placedo Creek through the Shenandoah neighborhood, then cross Mockingbird Lane and Leary Lane near Rowland Elementary School before connecting with the existing hike-and-bike trail.
TxDOT’s Transportation Alternatives Set-aside program funds transportation improvements that promote non-motorized transportation in a way that incorporates safety and accessibility improvements and helps to decrease traffic congestion.
Submit a comment
City of Victoria Grants Administrator Katy Connally explained that feedback is a crucial component of the grant application process.
“TxDOT values community feedback that is specific to the project being proposed,” Connally said. “Our application will be stronger if we hear from residents whose children could use the trail to walk to school, for example, or who would otherwise benefit from this project.”
Residents can share their comments by emailing kconnally@victoriatx.gov. Commenters should describe where they live and how the project will affect them.
The deadline to submit a comment is May 30.
How does the project align with other planned improvements on Guy Grant Road?
PHOTO #2: The City is planning to reconstruct Guy Grant Road and add a 10-foot-wide sidewalk on the northeast side of the road.
Next fiscal year, the City will begin engineering and right-of-way acquisition for a street improvement project on Guy Grant Road between Salem Road and Mockingbird Lane. Utility construction is expected to begin in fiscal year 2027, followed by street reconstruction in fiscal year 2028.
The street reconstruction aspect of the project will include a 10-foot-wide sidewalk on the northeast side of the road. If the trail project moves forward, the trail will connect with this new sidewalk, creating a continuous route for pedestrians and cyclists.
Infrastructure projects are outlined in the City’s capital improvement plan, which is subject to City Council approval on a yearly basis as part of the budget process. To learn more, visit www.victoriatx.gov/engineering.
How does the project align with the community’s goals for pedestrians and cyclists?
PHOTO #3: This image from the Active Transportation Master Plan shows proposed bicycle facilities in Victoria, including shared-use paths for cyclists and pedestrians.
PHOTO #4: This image from the Active Transportation Master Plan shows proposed sidewalk projects and intersection improvements in Victoria.
The new trail is one of the projects outlined in the City’s Active Transportation Master Plan, which was adopted in 2023 by the City Council. Based on community feedback, the plan provides recommendations for improving Victoria’s transportation network for pedestrians, cyclists and other non-motorized travel.
The plan also recommends additional sidewalks and bike lanes in the area of Guy Grant and Mockingbird, which, if pursued, would improve the overall connectivity of Victoria’s active transportation network.
To learn more, visit www.victoriatx.gov/atmp.
Stay connected
Connally will share more information about the trail project and the grant application process at the next City Council meeting, 5 p.m. April 1 at the City Council chambers, 107 W. Juan Linn St. Residents will have the opportunity to comment on the project during the citizen communication period of the meeting.
Residents can watch City Council meetings live on municipal cable channels 15 and 115, on the City’s website at www.victoriatx.gov/tv15 and on YouTube at Victoria Texas Public Meetings.
Past meetings can be viewed on demand on the City’s website and on YouTube.