MIDLAND, Texas — University of Texas Permian Basin and the City of Midland have announced that each entity has been awarded a grant from the Texas Transportation Commission called the "Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside Program" to help fund the Wildcatters Trail, according to a UTPB press release.
The 19-mile-long Wildcatters Trail is a biking, running and walking corridor which will eventually connect the cities of Midland and Odessa.
The City of Midland is receiving $3,697,495 while UTPB will get $6,377,697. UTPB President Dr. Sharon Woodley and Midland Mayor Lori Blong worked together on these grants to potentially help improve the quality of the spaces with safe and multi-modal trails in the Permian Basin.
The trail is planned to begin at UTPB's Odessa campus, extend through the Midland campus near the Engineering Building and the Wagner Noel Performing Arts Center and end at the Scharbauer Sports Complex in Midland.
The trail is an effort to provide the Permian Basin a safe place to hike and bike. The estimated cost of the completed trail is $65 million.
The Texas Transportation Commission announced on Oct. 26 that they are awarding $345,110,072 in federal funds and up to $35,543,677 in transportation development credits to support bicycle and pedestrian planning and infrastructure projects throughout the state.
Once the grant agreements are processed, UTPB and Midland will post Request for Proposals for each of their funded projects.
The construction should begin at the Scharbauer Sports Complex and on the UTPB campus within the next 12 months. It will be a multi-year collaboration.