Trail plan trades parking for paths

Proposed changes receive mixed reviews from neighborhood.

A plan to extend the Shoal Creek trail from its current northern end at West 38th Street includes removing parking from Shoal Creek Boulevard’s west side along a four-mile stretch and using that asphalt for a two-way bike lane.

The 122-page proposal released in mid-June, the fruit of a yearlong study by the Shoal Creek Conservancy at the behest of the city of Austin, has received a mixed reaction from the Allandale Neighborhood Association, which represents homeowners along most of that stretch from West 38th to Foster Lane. The bike lanes, along with sidewalks widened to 12 feet in spots to accommodate pedestrians, would cause a variety of problems, said Scott Ehlers, president of the neighborhood association.

The city and the conservancy envision the trail extension, including the lengthy portion of it that would be on streets and sidewalks, as part of a grand, 30-mile loop of trails tracing an egg-shape from Lady Bird Lake to the Domain in North Austin. This continuous trail in Central and East Austin, under the plan, would allow cyclists of all abilities to safely ride to downtown jobs and other activities without facing vehicle traffic.

But proponents emphasize that the plan for all 13 miles of an expanded Shoal Creek trail should be considered a starting