City of College Station

The College Station Greenways 

Program seeks to preserve a network of natural corridors along rivers, streams, utility corridors, and rights-of-way. Some corridors in the system include multi-use paths and others remain vegetated areas with no improvements for human access.

Greenways are a resource that serve a variety of functions including but not limited to floodplain management, protection of open space, and provide for wildlife and plant habitats. Multi-use paths within a greenway can provide alternate transportation routes for pedestrians and bicyclists, as well as recreation and health benefits. Multi-use paths also create connections to parks, neighborhoods, workplaces, schools, cultural and historical areas, and shopping centers.

The goals of the program are to:

• Improve Connectivity and Accessibility,

• Increase Safety,

• Increase Bicycling and Walking Outdoors, and

• Encourage Environmental Stewardship.

To date, the City has constructed 8 miles of multi-use paths and has protected over 600 acres of greenways. An additional six miles of multi-use paths are funded. Project information on multi-use paths underway can be found here. 

HISTORY

The Greenway Concept
In 1988, the Wolf Pen Creek Master Plan was adopted to promote urban development, with Wolf Pen Center as an amenity, by preserving as much of the creek's plants and wildlife as possible and by introducing multi-use paths for bicycling and walking. The Plan also sought to manage drainage in relation to storm water management and tried to prevent soil erosion along creek banks. The Wolf Pen Creek Zoning District followed with standards for treatment of the creek and adjacent areas as development occurred, including regulations that encouraged private development oriented towards the creek.

In the Spring of 1997, the Brazos Greenways Council formed as a non-profit organization and was instrumental in developing partnerships and creating a vision for the community's greenway system. They asked the City to appoint a group of citizens to develop a master plan to address statements made in the City's 1997 Comprehensive Plan that referenced greenways and open space. The Greenways Implementation Task Force was appointed in 1998 and that same year citizens approved $3.64 million in bond funds to acquire greenway property along floodplains. The Greenways Master Plan - "A Network of Greenways for College Station" was adopted in 1999.

The Greenways Master Plan defined greenways for College Station and the surrounding areas; classified and prioritized greenway corridors; provided guidance on the development of greenway trails; and provided an implementation plan.

Bicycling, Walking, and Greenways
In 1992, the City of College Station updated the Bikeway Master Plan. This update identified not only bicycle facilities but incorporated pedestrian facilities and multi-use paths in the form of sidewalks, side paths, and greenway trails. It called for approximately 40 miles of bike lanes, 50 miles of bike routes, and 30 miles of multi-use paths.

In 2002, the Bikeway and Pedestrian Master Plan Update was completed. It called for 20 miles in addition to 25 miles of existing bicycle lanes, 50 miles in addition to 59 miles of existing bicycle routes, and 40 miles in addition to 3 miles of existing multi-use paths. In 2004, the Hike and Bike Task Force was formulated to prioritize the multi-use paths defined in the 2002 Plan.

For more information about the Bicycle and Pedestrian Program, please contact Jason Schubert, Transportation Planning Coordinator by phone at 979.764.6221 or by email at [email protected].