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A proposed 100-mile network of trails from the Alamo to the Capitol could yield more than $ 55 million in economic, health, and other benefits, according to a report recently released by the Great Springs Project. The project provides hiking trails that traverse protected land and the Edwards Aquifer to connect four iconic springs in Texas: Barton, San Marcos, Comal, and San Antonio Springs.
Although the final trail routes have yet to be determined through a trails plan, which should be completed by December this year, the report uses a best estimate of these routes based on the sources, existing trails, and local trail plans.
“This report is one of the first steps in the roadmap,” said Emma Lindrose-Siegel, chief development officer of the Great Springs Project. “Part of it was to articulate why this work is valuable, to point out the benefits of the trail itself and the goal of preserving 50,000 hectares of land.”
The analysis estimated the number of cycle and pedestrian lanes on the trail system, the corresponding reduction in car journeys and vehicle kilometers traveled, the potential benefits that would result after the entire trail system was built, and the ecosystem services related to land protection along the trail Corridor.
“Paths make us healthier, and access to nature is one reason why people want to live here,” says Lindrose-Siegel. “We wanted to quantify that for the community and our stakeholders.”
The estimated economic benefits are $ 23.3 million, including the estimated expenses for goods, services, and accommodations for non-local visitors to the trail. The $ 11.4 million transportation benefits include fewer vehicle kilometers traveled and the associated reduction in traffic jams, collisions, lane maintenance costs and vehicle emissions. The estimated $ 1.8 million health benefit contributes to increased physical activity and the resulting reduction in health care costs. The benefits of ecosystem services are estimated at $ 19.2 million. These include improved water quality, rainwater management, wildlife habitat and carbon sequestration.
Preserving 50,000 hectares of undeveloped land and reducing emissions through fewer car journeys (replaced by cycling or walking) lead to the benefits of carbon sequestration. An estimated 5,500 hikers and runners as well as 4,800 cyclists will use the trail every day.
Lindrose-Siegel cites the growing crowd on existing trails in the area and the projected number of people who will use the Great Springs Routes as evidence of the need for the project.
“We expect people to travel to recreation or to travel all the way from the Alamo to the Capitol. There will be people who, let’s say, live in Kyle and want to go to San Marcos and not to I-35, ”she says. “We assume that many bikers and trail users will use it as a means of transport.”
On comparable trails, 33 percent of trail users do not come from the area. If that’s the case, that’s an estimated 1.1 million non-local users per year – who will be spending money on food, entertainment, bike rentals, accommodation, and the like. Other economic benefits could include jobs related to the construction and maintenance of paths.
All projections are based on usage estimates and survey results of similar trail systems in Texas and throughout the southeastern United States, extrapolated from national studies using various multipliers and quantified in terms of monetary value, if necessary.
The report also highlights using the protected land’s natural infrastructure to reduce catastrophic flood damage and save millions of dollars annually. Texas anticipates nationwide flood protection costs of $ 31.5 billion over the next 10 years.
“This is an important part of the report, highlighting the role of strategic land protection in reducing catastrophic flood damage,” added Lindrose-Siegel. “Sometimes it’s hard to see why investing in trails is worthwhile, but as this report shows, there are so many benefits to doing so. Being able to quantify and articulate this in a way that people can relate to really helps in gaining support for this project that will have a meaningful impact on people’s lives in the decades to come . “
The report was prepared under the guidance of Alta Planning + Design and the National Park Service.
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