Thanks much to our donors who gave $3,327.25 during our end-of-year support drive. Each $1 donated by an individual in 2025 unlocked over $4 in foundation grants and corporate gifts, and over $1,000 in public funding for the Red Line Parkway. What will your donation unlock?

Keep reading below for the latest updates on the Red Line Parkway.

I-35 & Red Line Parkway—Northern Crossing

It was a nailbiter, but City of Austin staff announced that they are moving forward with a "stitch" for the Red Line Parkway across I-35 at the northern crossing near Airport Blvd. Your support at the November open house was essential to achieving this result. The Red Line Parkway stitch was already included in the May 2025 Austin City Council decision, but other alternatives were proposed in the meantime. This staff decision confirms the investment of about $1MM in the foundations for the Red Line Parkway stitch, but future funding is still needed to complete the project. You can read more at the City of Austin's webpage for the Northern Stitches.

(The Red Line Parkway across I-35 at the southern crossing at 4th St. did not require further design refinements at this stage, and continues to move forward.)

Our city's urban trails, including the Red Line Parkway, deserve a welcoming environment for users, protecting them from dangerous particulate matter, 130° temperatures, lack of shade, deafening traffic noise, and other dangers resulting from close proximity to highways. In fact, our city and local philanthropists have invested again and again in creating better experiences for urban trail users in places where a simple path already existed, such as the newly opening Wishbone Bridge across Lady Bird Lake. The Red Line Parkway is the only opportunity to connect this part of our city to our regional trail network, so it's critical we make the most it.

Once built, the Red Line Parkway stitch will connect 5,000-10,000 people everyday to new and growing urban centers in Cherrywood, Hancock, North Loop, Hyde Park, Mueller, and beyond, including via the planned MetroRail Red Line Hancock Station. The stitch will allow for shade trees, will shield people from I-35 below, and will play a unique and outsized role in re-creating our region to be more walk, bike, and transit friendly.

Photo courtesy of City of Austin

Celebrate the Opening of the Wishbone Bridge, this Saturday, February 7th

Join us and many other trail and parks lovers to celebrate the opening of the Wishbone Bridge and Unity Underpass at 10am this Saturday, February 7th. This new three-legged bridge will provide connectivity and public space for the Butler Trail around Lady Bird Lake, as well as connect the East Riverside area with East Austin and the Red Line Parkway. The Unity Underpass connects people to Roy G. Guerrero Colorado River Metro Park, plus points further east, such as Montopolis, Del Valle, and anywhere you can fly from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Learn more from the City of Austin and The Trail Conservancy.

The main event starts at 10am, but you can join Ghisallo Cycling Initiative for a 9am ride from the Red Line Parkway. We'll be on the ride too‒look for the Red Line Parkway t-shirts. If you are driving straight to the main event, you can try the Krieg Fields lots for car parking.

Join us for It's My Park Day on Saturday, March 7th

Give back to the trail and greenbelt you love! Sign up and join us on the morning of Saturday, March 7th for It's My Park Day. We'll be adding much needed mulch to the trees along the Red Line Parkway / Boggy Creek Greenbelt Trail in East Austin. This ongoing care for our trees helps them grow strong to provide shade and protection from the summer heat.

More Upcoming Events

• Next Thursday, February 12th, at 6:30pm, our friends at Safe Streets Austin and the Congress For the New Urbanism Central Texas are hosting nationally-known urban planner Jeff Speck. He will share a vision for a more walkable Austin, including the role that converting one-way streets to two-way streets plays. Reserve your free ticket here.
• Save the date for Keep Austin Beautiful Day on Saturday, April 18th. Then look for updates from us soon for a care event along the Red Line Parkway.

Photo courtesy of CTRMA

Provide Your Feedback on Regional Shared-Use Paths

You may know of the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority (CTRMA) as the builder and operator of many of our region's toll roads. However, did you know they are among our biggest (if not the biggest) builder of our regional paved, shared-use path system?

They are seeking your feedback on shared-use paths to help identify opportunities for improvement. Provide your input via their survey today.

More Parkway and Vicinity Updates

• Construction begins on a new segment of the MoKan Trail, connecting the Red Line Parkway to the Southern Walnut Creek Trail. The new segment will include a new bridge over Boggy Creek near Springdale and Lyons. Learn more from the City of Austin.
• Rosewood Avenue at the Red Line Parkway (photo, right) is seeing substantial improvements, including long-awaited upgrades to the railroad crossing. The new paths over the railroad cross closer to a right angle, helping to prevent people on bikes, wheelchairs, and other wheeled devices from sudden falls or getting stuck. We could not find any info link to this city project--If you find one, please share with us!
• East 12th Street improvements continue, with more pedestrian crossings coming. Learn more from the City of Austin in a recent newsletter.
• Construction of design improvements to Congress Avenue are underway in Downtown Austin. Learn more about the Congress Avenue Urban Design Initiative from the City of Austin.
• New crosstown bike and pedestrian improvements along 49th Street and other nearby streets are connecting the Red Line Parkway with Shoal Creek. Learn more in this recent City of Austin newsletter.
• Preview upcoming 2026 City of Austin projects in the Local Mobility Annual Plan (LMAP). You can find more context in this recent City of Austin newsletter. By perusing the interactive 2026 projects map, keen eyes may notice the City of Austin / CapMetro Bikeshare network extending northward along the Red Line Parkway to MLK Jr. Station and Manor Road this year!
• Looking back on the last few years, CapMetro and the City of Austin released a report of shared projects that have improved transit speed and reliability, as well as walk and bike mobility. Learn more from CapMetro and find the report here.
• Looking forward, CapMetro recently finalized their Transit Plan 2035. Likely of particular interest to our Red Line Parkway audience are extensive sections on CapMetro Bikeshare (Appendix C on pp. 209-294) and MetroRail Red Line (Appendix D on pp. 295-325).
• The City of Cedar Park is easing back into providing transit service with a two-year pilot program for 24/7 on-demand rides citywide, plus to and from CapMetro’s Lakeline Station in Austin. Read more from Community Impact.

After our recent cold snaps, the upcoming weather is fantastic for getting outside for a walk, run, ride, picnic, or game of tag! Use our interactive map to get outdoors and find a good place to explore and relax.