The City of Sacramento continues to make progress toward construction of the Del Rio Trail with recent City Council approval of the tree removal and replacement plan.
The 4.8-mile multi-use path runs through the Land Park, South Land Park, Freeport Manor, Z’Berg, Pocket and Meadowview neighborhoods and allows people to access William Land Park, the Sacramento Zoo, schools, stores, restaurants, retail centers, jobs and other community parks without using a car.
“This is a community-driven and community-supported project that has involved stakeholders since its initiation,” Adam Randolph, project manager and senior engineer with the Department of Public Works said. “This project, among others, is part of our goal to provide more opportunities for Sacramentans to be active and healthy while also protecting our environment.”
The trail is part of the City’s Bikeway Master Plan to support more active transportation modes. Once completed, it will provide a climate-friendly travel option for people to bike to work rather than drive on freeways and boulevards.
The City Council approved the project’s environmental document in 2019, and staff have worked to tackle engineering details, settle encroachment issues and finalize tree replacement plans and activities, while keeping the community informed of progress.
The project was also recently awarded $5 million from Clean California grants for public art installations and other improvements.
There are more than 1,800 trees in the trail corridor of which staff identified 384 for removal. The City will plant 810 trees throughout the corridor to replace the 384 that are being removed — more than a 2:1 replacement ratio.
“Multiple design features were included to save existing trees to the greatest extent feasible,” Randolph said. “This includes adjusting the trail alignment, the trail width, and/or embankment slopes, and reducing the parking lot footprint. Retaining curbs and retaining walls were added to save existing trees.”
As a result of redesign efforts, 183 fewer trees will be removed than identified in the original trail alignment in the 2019 Final Environmental Impact Report.
Staff worked with the Sacramento Tree Foundation to select the new trees. In general, all the trees are native or climate-adapted and, once established, can survive without supplemental water.
The City will work with the Tree Foundation to plant and maintain the new trees for two years. The Tree Foundation will irrigate them to ensure the new trees are properly established and thrive. After, the entire parkway will be maintained by the City’s Department of Youth, Parks and Community Enrichment.
Once construction starts, staff will continue to look for any feasible alternatives for trees identified for removal that can be accommodated. Construction is expected to begin fall 2022.
For project history, FAQs and more information, visit cityofsacramento.org/DelRioTrail.