Brodie Lane Pedestrian Improvements

Re-Imagine Brodie

In 2023, the City of Sunset Valley began a process to envision the future of travel along Brodie Lane. The Re-Imagine Brodie project was a community-driven planning effort focused on identifying improvements that could make Brodie Lane safer and more comfortable for pedestrians and bicyclists while creating a more welcoming and recognizable commercial corridor. The original study area extended from Highway 290 to Oakdale Drive

Community Planning and Concept Development

The project began with a series of community events and a public survey to gather input from residents and other stakeholders. This work helped develop a Case for Action, which documented existing conditions and opportunities along the corridor, including an evaluation of lighting conditions.

The information and community input gather through this process were then used to develop a Concept Plan for Brodie Lane. The Concept Plan identified potential improvements on both sides of the roadway throughout the corridor, including pedestrian and bicycle facilities, lighting, landscaping, and other improvements intended to improve safety, connectivity, and the overall character of Brodie Lane.

Following completion of the Concept Plan the City Council directed the plan to be reviewed by various committees and to focus primarily on Phase 1A of the concept plan. This included the area on the east side of Brodie from HWY 290 to Home Depot Blvd.

Refining the Project

In February 2024, after receiving committee feedback, the City Council authorized a schematic design to reduce the scope and cost of the project by at least 25%. The resulting Schematic Design accomplished that goal while also extending the project beyond the original Phase 1A limits. The revised project extends from Highway 290 along the east side of Brodie Lane and continues along Home Depot Boulevard to the entrance of the Violet Crown Trail.

The design focuses on creating a continuous multi-use connection through the commercial corridor. It also incorporates different concrete treatments to create a distinctive pathway that helps tell the story of the Edwards Aquifer and Sunset Valley's relationship with its natural environment. This approach provides visual identity while reducing the cost and ongoing maintenance associated with some of the landscaping and other amenities considered during earlier phases of the project.

Solar-powered pedestrian lighting was also identified as a lower-cost alternative to traditional hard-wired lighting. The existing overhead electrical and communication lines along Brodie Lane limit where pedestrian lighting can be installed. Because light poles cannot be located beneath these utility lines, portions of the pathway were relocated to provide appropriate locations for lighting. This adjustment allows the project to provide a lighted pedestrian and bicycle route while working within the constraints of the existing utility infrastructure and avoiding the greater cost associated with relocating utilities or installing a traditional electrical lighting system.

Investing in the Commercial Corridor

As part of the City's Capital Improvement Planning process, the project was recommended to advance to the construction-document phase.

Brodie Lane serves as Sunset Valley's primary commercial corridor and is an important connection between businesses, neighborhoods, regional roadways, and the City's trail and greenspace system. Investment in this area provides an opportunity to improve pedestrian and bicycle connectivity while creating a more attractive and recognizable corridor for residents, visitors, employees, and customers.

The project would also create an important connection to the Violet Crown Trail, providing a safer and more inviting route between the regional trail system and Sunset Valley's commercial area.

Current Project Status

At this time, the Re-Imagine Brodie project is on hold while the City evaluates other potential priorities and considers how available resources should be allocated among competing capital needs. No decision to proceed with construction has been made.

The work completed to date—including the community engagement, Concept Plan, committee review, and Schematic Design—remains available to the City should the project move forward in the future. The current schematic reflects a significantly more focused project than the broader concept originally considered in 2023 and incorporates the cost-reduction and design changes developed through the City's review process.