Sustainability: Trinity River Vision Authority

On May 25, 2013 the Planning and Development Manager (Shanna Cate) for the Trinity River Vision Authority (TRVA) gave us a presentation of some the current projects that they are working on. The TRVA covers over 88 miles of river area and are responsible for the transportation and utility infrastructure. They are trying to revitalize riverfront areas within in the Fort Worth area.

The “Panther Island” project is the area I will focus on. Shanna stated that the vision is “to create an urban live, work, and play model” on the waterfront. This modeled after the Granville Island in British Columbia, Canada.

The partners involved in this effort are the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Tarrant County, Tarrant Regional Water District, City of Fort Worth, Trinity River Vision Authority, TX Department of Transportation, and Streams & Valleys Inc. On the face of it, one would think the amount of coordination between this public/private relationship would be staggering.

The project is estimated to provide 16,000 jobs, 10,000 housing units, and numerous businesses. The idea is to bring the public back to the water front to use and enjoy this natural resource to the fullest extent possible.

They currently have a pavilion which provides a place to showcase concerts and other events. Shanna said that this adds to the quality of life element for the area. Other activities they either have or plan on having are the Cowtown Wake Park, the Woodshed, the Coyote Drive In, beach area, kayaking area, tubing, and areas for festivals and the like.

This area is being developed to harness the flood waters and regulate the flow of water to provide a safe area to expand construction on the island. The plan is to divert the water using a levee system around the island and control the path of the water. This will allow for a stable flow which will not flood the area. The excess water will be retained in a lake area that can be utilized for recreation. The project is expected to be complete in year 2021.

An added incentive is that the area is in a 80/20 Tax Increment Financing (TIF) area. This allows financial incentives for the costs involved for improving this particular area.

I think this is a great idea that will attract tourism as well as provide a place for people to live and work. It should cut down on the vehicle traffic because everything will be within a relatively near proximity for walking. This is yet another area of Fort Worth that should be on a “must see” list for tourists and residents alike.