Early this decade, Dallas' Trinity Strand Trail was little more than an unfunded idea floating in the minds and dancing on the sketchpads of a few dedicated disciples.

But Tuesday morning, these original backers stood alongside the likes of Mayor Tom Leppert and District 3 City Council member Dave Neumann for some perfunctory dirt tossing in commencing construction of the planned 7.8-mile, $25 million trail.

If built as conceived, the ribbon of pavement and crushed granite will course south along an abandoned Trinity River meander and link with the popular Katy Trail just north of American Airlines Center.

It will also connect walkers, joggers, skaters and cyclists to the edge of the city's long-delayed public works, parks and flood control undertaking – the $1.2 billion-plus Trinity River project.

"This is a terrific step forward to getting there," said Mr. Leppert, who was flanked during the ceremony by Mr. Neumann and Ed Oakley, the former District 3 City Council member and 2007 mayoral candidate.

By year's end, an entrance plaza along Turtle Creek Boulevard should be completed, said Trinity Strand Trail board chairman Mike Kutner.

Within 18 months, the trail's first segment should be open for use, he added.