The 30X30 Committment

Out of a 150-mile trail network, where do you start?

After River Region Trails completed its master plan in 2023, the City of Montgomery and the Montgomery County Commission invested $5.2 million in ARPA funding to advance four catalytic trail projects: the Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail, Cypress Nature Preserve, the Jackson Cut, and the Riverfront Extension.

Recognizing that these investments required sustained coordination, and that we needed to get ahead of key corridors to ensure broader connectivity, we identified ten priority projects. To bring clarity and alignment to this effort, we organized these routes into a unified 30-mile framework. This package establishes a clear starting point within the broader 150-mile vision and provides a roadmap for implementation.

By framing the work this way, we created a deliberate and strategic core that maximizes funding opportunities, supports multiple trail typologies, and forms the heart of a cohesive network that future trail segments will build upon.

  • Jackson Cut

    Reimagining a historic rail corridor, the Jackson Cut transforms a recessed rail line into a future trail linking downtown destinations to the riverfront.

  • The Zoo Trail

    The Zoo Trail is a connection between downtown Montgomery and the Montgomery Zoo, linking neighborhoods, parks, and cultural destinations with a safe, accessible route for walking and biking.

  • Gunter Creek Trail

    This trail proposes a stream restoration of Galbraith Mill Creek, connecting Gunter Air Force Base to the Highland Ave. Trail.

  • Maxwell Crossing

    Maxwell Crossing adds bike lanes between Wright Brothers Park and Maxwell Air Force Base, strengthening connections past Whitewater and improving safe access for cyclists traveling between west Montgomery and downtown.

  • Selma-Montgomery Trail

    Tracing the route of the historic 1965 Selma to Montgomery marches, this trail honors a defining chapter of the Civil Rights Movement while creating new opportunities for walking, biking, and reflection.

  • South Court St.

    The South Court Street Trail creates a north–south connection from the Court Square Fountain to Gateway Park, linking downtown with surrounding neighborhoods through a safer, more accessible corridor for walking and biking.

  • Highland Avenue

    The Highland Avenue Trail is a street-based trail along historic Highland Avenue, connecting the Ann Street Shopping Center to Downtown Montgomery through established residential neighborhoods. The corridor links key destinations like the Jackson Cut and the historic Ben Moore Hotel.

  • Lafayette St.

    The Lafayette Street Trail connects Riverfront Park to the marina through an industrial corridor atop the Alabama River.

  • Capital City Riverwalk

    The Capital City Riverwalk reimagines Riverfront Park and explores opportunities to extend the trail toward Maxwell, strengthening connections between downtown, the river, and nearby communities.

  • Cypress Nature Preserve

    Cypress Nature Preserve is a future public nature park protecting a tupelo swamp just minutes from downtown Montgomery.