The City of Dallas Park and Recreation Board has delayed a vote on potential changes to the last stretch of the city's "Loop" trail. The hike and bike trail will ultimately wind 50 miles around the city.
The Loop has been connecting 39 miles of existing trails with 11 miles of new trails. Among the new sections is a mile-long stretch along Hi Line Road that would connect Trinity Strand Trail in the Design District to Katy Trail near Victory Park.
The board had approved an $11.5 million plan from one contractor, but another group sued. Gadberry Construction says it submitted a lower bid, but the city determined it did not have proper experience for the project.
The lawsuit has led to construction delays, and Fain Group, which was awarded the contract, now says the project will cost more than planned.
"I think the litigation is being taken advantage of by this contractor plain and simple," Dallas Park and Recreation Board Chair Arun Agarwal said during a meeting Thursday.
The lawsuit is still pending, but construction on the Hi Line Connector has started.
Thursday, the Park and Recreation Board had an item on its agenda to decrease its contract with Fain Group. The decrease would have cut lighting and decorations from the Hi Line underpass beneath 35E.
"In my time on the park board, we've talked about cameras and lighting a significant amount," said Board Member Lane Conner. "When you're crossing underneath overpasses and taking away lighting, in my head, that reduces security. We can call these aesthetic lights, but I don't agree with that characterization."
The board ultimately decided not to cut any part of the project now. Instead, members decided to delay action two meetings until May 18.
Agarwal said the delay will give the board additional time to renegotiate the contract.
"Costs have not gone up by 30%. If I take Consumer Price Index, that has gone up four percent. If I take concrete prices, they are five dollars different, not 60 dollars," he said.
Dallas Park and Recreation says eliminating lights from the project now may make the area less inviting short-term, but construction is already underway on the rest of the Hi Line Connector, so it could move forward with the project and add lights and designs at the underpass later.
"The trail is the primary focus, so in order to move forward, taking those amenities out at this time seems to be the most cost effective thing," says the department's John Reynolds.
Construction underway now will add sidewalks and landscaping to the median of Hi Line. The project is currently expected to be complete in July 2024.
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