The Del Rio Trail Project FAQs

What is the Del Rio Trail Project and where is it located?
The proposed 4.8-mile Del Rio Trail Project consists of a Class I shared use path. The Del Rio Trail is proposed to be located in the rail corridor of the former Sacramento Southern Railroad’s Walnut Grove Branch Line. This now abandoned rail line runs south through the Land Park, South Land Park, Freeport Manor, Z’Berg, Pocket, and Meadowview neighborhoods between Interstate 5 and Freeport Boulevard.

How did the Del Rio Trail Project evolve?
The trail project evolved through a community-driven effort to plan for the future development of the rail corridor in 2014. City staff worked with the South Land Park Neighborhood Association to provide a neighborhood survey and to collect comments in 2015. From there, the City submitted an Active Transportation Program (ATP) grant application and was successful in obtaining federal funding for the preliminary engineering, environmental clearance, and final design phase. The preliminary engineering and environmental clearance phase concluded in October 2019. Final Design began in April 2020.

What are the benefits of the Del Rio Trail Project?
The inner-city trail will allow south Sacramento residents, cyclists, pedestrians, runners, and dog walkers to travel for miles to access William Land Park, the Sacramento Zoo, schools, stores, restaurants, retail centers, jobs, and community parks. It will create a safe option to cross busy streets like Sutterville and Fruitridge Road. It will also provide a direct link to other trails within the City of Sacramento’s Bicycle Master Plan and Regional Transit bus stops. This project, along with other projects the City is advancing, is part of the City’s goal to provide more opportunities for Sacramentans to be active and healthy while also protecting our environment.

What is the current project phase and timeline for completion?
Currently, the City of Sacramento Department of Public Works has initiated final design of the project, which includes preparation of construction plans. This phase will be immediately followed by the construction phase, anticipated in Spring 2022.

What is the project purpose?
The purpose of the Del Rio Trail Project is to:

• Advance and complete the planned connection between the Sacramento River Parkway and the Freeport Shores Bikeway
• Connect logical origins and destinations by improving pedestrian and bicycle access throughout the South Land Park, Freeport Manor, Z’Berg, Land Park, Meadowview and Pocket communities; and
• Provide an American’s with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant connection to schools, retail, jobs, and recreational amenities throughout the south Sacramento area for pedestrians and bicyclists of all ages and abilities.

Why is this project needed?
The Del Rio Trail Project will provide opportunities for those who do not drive or have access to a car to access schools, retail, and job centers. The trail will also be a recreational amenity in the City’s overall active transportation network.

What is the total project budget and how much is in hand?
The total cost of the project is approximately $16.5 million dollars. This includes environmental clearance, design, right of way acquisition, construction, and construction management.

Who is paying for the project?
The project is being funded by a combination of grants from the State’s Active Transportation Program and the Federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality program.

If the Del Rio Trail Project is not constructed, can the funds be used for other City of Sacramento projects or initiatives like homelessness, roads, school programs, etc.?
No. The grant funding can only be used for active transportation improvements. If the City does not use these funds for the Del Rio Trail, they will be reprogrammed for other active transportation projects in the region.

Who owns the right of way?
The existing rail corridor has multiple owners including the City of Sacramento, Regional Transit, and California State Parks.

Who will maintain the trail?
The trail will be maintained by the City of Sacramento Department of Public Works and Department of Youth, Parks, and Community Enrichment.

How does this project tie in with the Sacramento River Bike Trail?
The Del Rio Trail corridor is east of Interstate 5 and provides a north-south connector while the Sacramento River Parkway serves the west side of Interstate 5. The Del Rio Trail will tie into the Sacramento River Parkway to the north at the railroad bridge over I-5, and to the south via the Freeport Shores Bike Trail.

Will the project include consideration of a rail with trail alternative?
For the segment of the trail north of Sutterville Road, the trail alignment that uses the existing rail corridor to connect to the Sacramento River Parkway will be designed to co-exist with the existing tracks. This segment was environmentally cleared for an extension of the Old Sacramento Excursion Train. Segments of the project south of Sutterville Road will minimize impacts to the existing rail, but there are no current plans to operate an excursion train on the existing tracks.

What are the proposed access point locations?
Anticipated primary access points include the major crossing locations at Sutterville Road, Fruitridge Road, 35th Avenue, Florin Road, and Pocket Road. Secondary access points include South Land Park Drive, Normandy/Del Rio Road, Park Village Street, Charlie Jensen Park at 14th Street, 43rd Avenue, Palomar Circle, and Z’Berg Park. Trailhead parking will also be provided at the northern terminus near Riverside Avenue and in the southern segment along Freeport Boulevard.

Will there be an opportunity for private secondary access points from residents’ backyards or cul-de-sacs?
After the project is constructed, property owners along the trail will be able to access the trail via their own backyard gates if they desire. Secondary access points to the trail from the cul-de-sacs along Park Village Street were explored and it was determined that most residents did not favor providing access at these locations.

Will I be able to use the rail corridor to continue to access my property with a vehicle, boat, or motor home after the project is constructed?
Any legal access rights that currently exist will be maintained upon receipt of appropriate documentation. To ensure the safety of bicyclists and pedestrians using the shared use trail, unauthorized access by private vehicles in the corridor will not be permitted.

Will encroachments on the trail property be maintained after the bike path is installed?
Any encroachments supported by legal documentation will be maintained by the project. Unauthorized encroachments represent a liability to both the City and the property owner. As a result, these encroachments will be removed prior to the construction of the trail.

Will enhancements be included in the Del Rio Trail Project and, if so, where will they be located?
Anticipated sources for construction funding allow some expenditures associated with decorative landscaping, lights, street furniture, pavers and stamped concrete. Enhancements outside these categories will need to be explored as separate projects with the City’s Youth, Parks, and Community Enhancement Department and will likely need funding from private donations and/or sponsorships.

Entry-way enhancements would occur at the primary/secondary access points. Landscaping and site furnishings can be provided anywhere along the trail. Specific locations for site furnishings and landscaping will be identified during the final design phase.

How will the trail cross the various streets along the proposed corridor?
Along its 4.8-mile length, the trail will cross Sutterville Road, South Land Park Drive, Del Rio Road, Fruitridge Road, 35th Avenue, 43rd Avenue, Florin Road and Meadowview/Pocket Road. Each of these crossings were individually analyzed taking into consideration the type of roadway, traffic volumes, posted speed, collision history, and roadway geometry to determine the most appropriate crossing facility. The project is proposing pedestrian actuated signals at Sutterville Road and Fruitridge Road; a Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon at South Land Park Drive; stop signs at Del Rio Road; bulb-outs at 35th Avenue and 43rd/Blair Avenue; and trail realignment to existing signalized crossings at Florin Road and Meadowview/Pocket Road.

Will the trail configuration meander or be straight?
The project team has designed the trail to include a combination of both straight and meandering sections based on public input, physical topography, and environmental constraints.

Will the trail be lit?
Lighting will be provided at locations where the trail crosses a street. For the trail itself, the City’s policy is to not provide lighting along bicycle and pedestrian trails.

How will safety along the trail be addressed?
Along the length of the trail, Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) elements will be incorporated in coordination with law enforcement including vegetation management, location markers, enforcement access, and site furniture that discourages homeless usage. Once constructed, the trail corridor will be patrolled by the City of Sacramento’s Park Rangers. The Rangers, together with City Police, will respond to calls and ensure that there is no loitering after sunset, no camping, and no accumulation of garbage or personal possessions along the trail. Subsequent strategies will evolve as needed to address specific issues.

How will plants be selected along the trail?
The project will select adaptive, drought-friendly, low maintenance plant materials that are native to the environment.

Will there be a dog park included in the project?
Dog parks are an enhancement feature that would not be eligible for funding under the existing grants. The establishment of formal dog parks along the trail will need to be explored with the City’s Youth, Parks, and Community Enhancement Department and implemented as complementary, stand-alone projects.

Will there be a leash law on the trail?
The City of Sacramento has a city-wide leash law as part of their public policy that would apply along the Del Rio Trail.

Are any community gardens planned along the trail?
The community is coordinating with Sacramento Sustainability Program Manager Jennifer Venema (jvenema@cityofsacramento.org) regarding a potential community garden at the City-owned lot on Palomar Circle.

Is public art along the trail a consideration?
Yes. Public art is something the City will consider and encourage, but it is not a funded feature under the funding grants. Public art would likely need funding from private donations and/or sponsorships.

When will the City decide which enhancements will be included for decorative landscaping, lights, street furniture, pavers and stamped concrete?
The City will identify trail enhancements during the final design phase.

Will the existing railroad tracks be left in place?
The existing railroad tracks will be addressed in each of the following ways:

• The majority of the track will be retained, including its metal rails, wood ties, and gravel ballast.
• A limited segment of existing railroad track will be removed where necessary for safety, particularly at major arterial intersections or where the skew of the existing track against the alignment of the proposed multi-use trail will cause a safety hazard.
•  Where other project constraints make it necessary for the walking path to overlap with the existing track, sections of the track will be converted to a walking trail by infilling the area between the metal rails with a traversable surface such as decomposed granite or concrete.

Where can the public obtain a copy of the environmental document?
A link to the approved Environmental Document is provided on the project website.

What else needs to be done before the project begins construction?
Prior to construction, the project needs to complete the design phase. Construction is anticipated to begin in Spring 2022.

If initial construction funding is less than the total cost of the project, how will the construction be phased?
Based on current estimates, the City has enough construction funds to build the full project.

How will the public be affected by the Del Rio Trail construction?
The environmental document considered the impacts of construction activities on adjacent residents and provided appropriate mitigation measures. These measures are being incorporated into the project plans and specifications for the construction contractor to follow.

Can I still comment on the project?
Significant feedback was collected during the preliminary engineering phase through the numerous outreach events. During the final design phase, feedback will continue to be welcomed and addressed.

How will the public be updated about the project?
Project updates and community meeting announcements will be provided through a variety of channels such as direct mail newsletters, the City’s CityExpress blog, electronic and social media communications, Councilmember Schenirer and Hansen’s offices, local neighborhood and business association e-blasts, Nextdoor posts, and customized project e-blasts.

How can the public get involved, provide feedback and ask questions?
The public is encouraged to visit the project website and sign up to be included on future correspondence. Direct feedback or questions can be sent to the City’s Project Manager, William Shunk, via e-mail at wshunk@cityofsacramento.org.