Relating to the establishment of a hike and bike trail to be known as the Bicentennial Trail.

Contracts

• Real Estate Purchase Agreements: Insert contingencies or disclosures for properties in the Austin-San Antonio corridor regarding potential GLO interest.
• Easement Agreements: Do not use standard utility templates. Agreements must explicitly define public access hours, liability indemnification, and assign maintenance duties strictly to TPWD (per Sec. 31.504).
• Memoranda of Understanding (MOU): Nonprofits and local governments entering partnerships for trail development must execute MOUs that define financial responsibilities and maintenance standards.

Hiring/Training

• Government Contractors: Ensure vendor status is active with GLO and TPWD; monitor for "Planner IV" and construction RFPs immediately, as the Fiscal Note estimates costs exceeding $1,000,000 per mile.
• Legal Counsel: Retain counsel specialized in government land negotiations; standard real estate counsel may miss nuances regarding sovereign immunity and recreational use statutes.

Reporting & Record-Keeping

• Title Insurance: Title commitments for properties in this region must be scrutinized for new trail easements. A "hike and bike" easement significantly alters surface use rights compared to utility easements.
• Maintenance Logs: If your entity retains any maintenance duties via MOU, establish logs to document safety inspections to mitigate liability for hiker/biker injuries.

Fees & Costs

• Insurance: Review General Liability policies for "attractive nuisance" coverage if your property abuts the proposed route. You may need to budget for enhanced perimeter fencing.
• Legal Spend: Budget for increased legal fees to negotiate easement terms; because the state cannot force a sale, the cost is in the negotiation leverage.