November 23, 2025 – Projects include sidewalks, bike lanes and safety improvements
PARIS – The Texas Transportation Commission has approved more than $284.8 million for bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure that will help improve safety, mobility, access and quality of life for people across the state.
These federal Transportation Alternative funds will go toward 73 projects statewide that will build sidewalks, shared use paths, dedicated bicycle lanes and pedestrian bridges. They will also be used for the development of active transportation plans that will help communities plan for non-motorized connected networks.
“This significant investment will make it safer and more enjoyable for people to walk and bike in their communities while improving access across the state,” Texas Transportation Commissioner Robert “Robie” Vaughn said. “By expanding transportation options, we can build more connected communities and a more connected Texas, while enhancing the quality of life for everyone.”
PARIS DISTRICT
TA Coordinator: Scott Shannon
Project Sponsor: City of Farmersville
Project Name: Northeast Texas Trail Improvements – Hunt County Section
Phases of work included in award: Design & Construction
Federal Funding Amount: $5,130,400
Project Description: The project will widen the existing 8-foot-wide trail to a 10-foot-wide shared use path by installing approximately 7.39 miles of 10-foot-wide base and decomposed granite from FM 2194 in Merit, Texas to the southwestern city limits of Celeste, Texas. The project will also include additional width clearing, access gates, signage, driveway crossings, culverts, drainage improvements, and bridge rehabilitation. The project will complete the construction of this portion of the 130-mile Northeast Texas Trail (NETT) as a shared use path from Merit to Celeste.
Project Sponsor: NETT
Project Name: NETT SW Paris Gap
Phases of work included in award: Design and Construction
Federal Funding Amount: $15,917,000
Project Description: The project will construct 5 miles of10-foot-wide shared use path and 1 mile of bicycle lanes along the Northeast Texas Trail (NETT) from County Road 22500 to the existing NETT intersection on Collegiate Dr. in Paris, Texas. The project will consist of mostly concrete SUP with a smaller section of loose aggregate wearing surface. There will also be clearing striping and safety bollards for street crossings. The project will complete connectivity of the 130-mile-long Northeast Texas Trail.
Project Sponsor: Red River County
Project Name: NETT Bridge Replacement East of Annona
Phases of work included in award: Design and Construction
Federal Funding Amount: $3,741,000
Project Description: The project will remove a dilapidated bridge and construct an approximately 310-foot pedestrian bridge at the intersection of the Northeast Texas Trail (NETT) and Kickapoo Creek.
More information on all the projects can be found at txdot.gov.
Working to keep vulnerable users safe
While collisions involving pedestrians and cyclists only make up a small percentage of traffic crashes in Texas, they account for 1 in 5 traffic fatalities. All of these projects will provide safer conditions for people who walk or use bicycles or wheelchairs. More specifically, 27 of these projects will improve pedestrian safety in areas identified as potential risks in the Texas Pedestrian Safety Action Plan. Twenty-nine of these projects are intended to provide safer routes for children walking and biking to schools.
Funding for these projects comes from the federal Transportation Alternatives program. All award selections come after a competitive call for projects from cities and counties across the state.
For more information, please contact [email protected] or call (903) 737-9213.
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