An old rail line — soon to be home to a trail — runs through South Austin. Photo: Asher Price/Axios
A new walking-and-biking trail along an abandoned railroad track in South Austin breaks ground today.
Why it matters: The Bergstrom Spur Trail is meant to tie together neighborhoods just south of Ben White Boulevard that are now a hodgepodge of medical centers, restaurants, parks, auto shops and highways.
How it works: The 6.5-mile paved trail will ultimately connect Vinson Drive in South Austin to East Riverside Drive and U.S. 183 in southeast Austin, as well as a number of parks and neighborhoods.
The trail would run from just west of South First Street to U.S. 183, by the airport. Image courtesy city of Austin
Flashback: The rail line, owned and operated by Union Pacific Railroad, was a critical connection to the former Bergstrom Air Force Base, which was established in 1942 following the U.S. entry into World War II.
The shuttered base is now the site of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.
What they're saying: The trail promises to be "a vital east-to-west connection in deep South Austin," Austin City Council Member Vanessa Fuentes tells Axios via email.
"This project is a great example of turning underutilized infrastructure into a true community benefit, expanding mobility options for our residents," she writes.
💰 Follow the money: The trail construction will cost $29 million, Andrés Cantú, a spokesperson with the city's capital delivery services department, tells Axios.