STRATEGIC PRIORITY: Sustainable
AGENDA DATE: May 28, 2025
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S): Citywide
DEPARTMENT: Department of Transportation and Public Works
EXECUTIVE: Dev Rastogi
______________________________________________________________________
SUBJECT
Title
A resolution authorizing the adoption of the update to the Dallas Bike Plan - Financing: This action has no cost consideration to the City (see Fiscal Information for future costs)
Body
BACKGROUND
On April 28, 2021, the City Council unanimously adopted the Strategic Mobility Plan (SMP), also known as “Connect Dallas”, by Resolution No. 21-0691. The SMP provides a framework for developing transportation policies, programs, and investment strategies by incorporating integrated transportation decision-making with housing, economic vitality, equity, environmental sustainability, innovation, and safety.
One of the policy recommendations within the SMP is to “Update the Bike and Thoroughfare Plans.” The SMP noted that “one of the greatest challenges to creating a list of future priority projects is the lack of vetted and scoped projects in the Needs Inventory. The City’s transportation planning documents have exceeded their useful life and therefore no longer serve as a useful guide for project needs. […] The Dallas Bike Plan has not been updated since 2011. Due to the aging nature of these plans, they no longer reflect the existing conditions, needs, and preferences of the City and its residents.”
In its efforts to implement the SMP, the City of Dallas Department of Transportation and Public Works, with the support of a consultant team and input from stakeholders, have been working to develop the update to the Dallas Bike Plan. This update to the Dallas Bike Plan accomplishes three major goals, as follows: (a) updates the Bike Network, which identifies the city streets on which bike facilities could be installed and the type of facility that is recommended, with the intent to serve all ages and abilities; (b) updates design standards by which bike facilities will be designed; and (c) recommends a set of priority projects and subsequent implementation plan for the remaining projects.
Key steps that informed the development of the update to the Dallas Bike Plan included:
• An in-depth analysis of crash data, bicycle trip demand, level of traffic stress, system connectivity, equity, and public health factors.
• Ongoing meetings with the Council-appointed Bicycle Advisory Committee and the intergovernmental staff-level Technical Advisory Committee.
• Public engagement including surveys, virtual meetings and 11 in-person public meetings, two virtual phases of public input, and opportunities for public comments.
One additional key feature of the updated plan is the inclusion of a formalized process for amending the Bike Network map, which requires amendments to undergo an additional public comment period, input from the Bicycle Advisory Committee, and approval by the City Council.
PRIOR ACTION/REVIEW (COUNCIL, BOARDS, COMMISSIONS)
On April 28, 2021, the City Council authorized the adoption of the City of Dallas SMP, known as “Connect Dallas”, and the coordination of initiatives and partnerships necessary to implement the actions and goals set forth in the SMP by Resolution No. 21-0691.
The City Council was briefed by memorandum regarding this matter on December 3, 2021. <https://dallascityhall.com/government/citymanager/Documents/FY%2021-22%20Memos/12-3-21%20Friday%20Memo_Nominations%20for%20Bike%20Plan%20Advisory%20Committee.pdf>
On December 8, 2021, the City Council authorized a professional service contract with Gresham Smith to update the 2011 Dallas Bike Plan, in the amount of $449,045.00, by Resolution No. 21-1981.
On May 11, 2022, the City Council authorized Supplemental Agreement No. 1 to the professional services contract with Gresham Smith to expand the project scope to include additional priority bike project design and study elements, in the amount of $368,236.00, increasing the contract amount from $449,045.00 to $817,281.00, by Resolution No. 22-0718.
The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee was briefed on the “Dallas Bike Plan Update” on August 15, 2022.
The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee was briefed on the “Dallas Bike Plan Update” on September 19, 2022.
The City Council was briefed by memorandum regarding this matter on September 30, 2022. <https://dallascityhall.com/government/citymanager/Documents/FY%2021-22%20Memos/Dallas_Bikeplan_Update_%20Response%20to%20TRNI%20Briefing_2022.09.20.pdf>
The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee was briefed on the “Dallas Bike Plan Update” on April 17, 2023.
The City Council was briefed by memorandum regarding this matter on June 16, 2023. <https://dallascityhall.com/government/citymanager/Documents/FY%2022-23%20Memos/Dallas%20Bike%20Plan%20Update%20%20Final%20Public%20Input%20Opportunity.pdf>
The Park Board was briefed on the “Dallas Bike Plan Update” on August 17, 2023.
The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee was briefed by memorandum regarding this matter on September 18, 2023. <https://cityofdallas.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=12301748&GUID=3F70475F-4E13-479E-8408-53632DE1B988>
The City Council was briefed on the “Dallas Bike Plan 2023” on November 1, 2023.
The City Council was briefed by memorandum regarding this matter on May 24, 2024. <https://dallascityhall.com/government/citymanager/Documents/FY23-24%20Memos/Dallas%20Bike%20Plan%20Update%20and%20Upcoming%20Engagement%20Meetings.pdf>
The City Council was briefed by memorandum regarding this matter on August 22, 2024. <https://dallascityhall.com/government/citymanager/Documents/Council%20Materials/2011%20Bike%20Plan%20Update.pdf>
The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee was briefed on the “Dallas Bike Plan 2025: Status Update” on October 21, 2024.
The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee was briefed on the “Dallas Bike Plan 2025: Status Update” on January 21, 2025.
The City Council was briefed by memorandum regarding this matter on May 16, 2025. <https://dallascityhall.com/government/citymanager/Documents/FY24-25%20Memos/Dallas%20Bike%20Plan%202025%20-%20Path%20to%20Adoption%20and%20Next%20Steps.pdf>
FISCAL INFORMATION
This action has no cost consideration to the City. Future costs to the City will include implementation of the recommended projects to build out the Bike Network as well as the associated increase in maintenance costs.