The Dallas Cultural Trail was awarded the Reconnecting Communities Pilot (RCP) Grant Program a $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation on Friday, Jan. 13, 2025.
According to a news release, this grant will fund community engagement and provide for design, and engineering of the trail to create a shovel-ready project. The RCP Grant Program seeks to reconnect communities harmed by past transportation infrastructure decisions through community-supported planning activities and capital construction projects. Over $544 million was distributed to 81 projects under this project, the release said.
“Expanding Dallas’ parks and trails is one of my top priorities, and I am thrilled to see the Dallas Cultural Trail move forward,” said Dallas Mayor Eric L. Johnson. “Through this trail, Dallas will strengthen the bonds between our communities, expand access to arts and culture, and make Dallas an even more vibrant and connected city.”
This multiyear effort was made possible through efforts of the City of Dallas, Deep Ellum Foundation, Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), Dallas Arts District, Fair Park First, Visit Dallas, Friends of Santa Fe Trail, and Forest Forward. The City of Dallas 2024 bond dollars and other projected city dollars earmarked for the Dallas Cultural Trail were leveraged to apply for this federal grant, city officials say.
“The Dallas Cultural Trail represents our commitment to building bridges in our community,” said City Manager, Kimberly Bizor Tolbert. “This trail will help us ensure that all residents and visitors have opportunities to experience arts and culture throughout the city as outlined in our Dallas Cultural Plan. Together we are creating pathways to a more connected and sustainable future for all.”
The grant aligns with current active plans led by the City of Dallas, NCTCOG, DART and TxDOT (including the CBD Fair Park Links project, Dallas Bike Plan, DART Fantastic Places project, I-345 and I-30 burials) to improve multi-modal access to and in between these destinations.
“The Deep Ellum Foundation is grateful to have applied on behalf of our incredible coalition behind this effort to build a trail in Dallas putting the richness of our distinct neighborhoods’ art, culture and history at the fingertips of all who travel it,’” said Stephanie Keller Hudiburg, Executive Director of the Deep Ellum Foundation. “We are so thankful to the City of Dallas, TxDOT and USDOT for their investment, leadership and support of this community-led initiative.”
The DCT will be an accessible public trail reconnecting the Dallas Arts District, Deep Ellum and South Dallas. According to city officials, the DCT will drive economic development, cultural tourism and multi-modal connectivity.
Source: City of Dallas
