MoKan Trail

The MoKan Trail urban trail will follow a short section of the former Missouri-Kansas-Texas (MoKan) Railroad in east Austin. Once complete, the 1.5-mile trail will connect an existing protected bike path on Pedernales Street to the Southern Walnut Creek Trail system.

Project Background

The MoKan Trail project was identified as a needed trail connection in the City’s 2014 Urban Trails Plan. City Council designated the project as a Tier 1 (high priority) trail in 2021 following advocacy and support from neighborhood groups, local environmental organizations, and community leaders.

The MoKan Trail will help connect residents to transit stations, commercial and cultural destinations, parks, schools, the Cepeda Branch Library, and grocery stores. The trail will also connect to the planned Green Line Pleasant Valley Transfer Station.

A private developer built a .25-mile section of the MoKan Trail (Springdale Road to Shady Lane), which opened in January 2023. The City of Austin is currently developing a .75-mile section of the trail (North Pleasant Valley Road to Springdale Road), which is being constructed in five phases due to the unique circumstances in each phase.

Timeline

Construction

Phase 1: Complete
Phase 2: Complete
Phase 3A: Summer 2024 - Fall 2024
Phase 3B: Fall 2026
Phase 4: Summer 2024 - Fall 2024
Phase 5: Fall 2025 - Fall 2026*

*Construction timeline is subject to change.

Funding

Funding sources for the North Pleasant Valley Road to Springdale Road section:

2020 Mobility Bond
$1 million in Community Project Funding secured by Congressman Lloyd Doggett through the Fiscal Year 2022 Federal Appropriations bill

Project Process

Technical report

In Summer 2023, the project team published a Technical Report summarizing findings from the project’s preliminary engineering phase. The report covers constraints and proposed design solutions for six project segments. The Technical Report includes a Schematic Design Drawing, which illustrates the recommended trail route from an aerial perspective.

Public Involvement

Spring 2023: Preliminary Engineering Phase Virtual Open House

The City of Austin's Urban Trails Program held a virtual open house to gather feedback during the project's preliminary engineering phase from March 20 - April 23, 2023. View the open house.

Review the public input summary or all public comments received by the project team.

Contact Us

If you have questions, please email AustinMobility@austintexas.gov

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