Trail efforts lead to approvals

By BRIAN WALKER

Staff Writer

COEUR d'ALENE — Two local trails are on the path to rehabilitation.

Kootenai County commissioners plan today to sign a maintenance memorandum of understanding between the county and Idaho Transportation Department that will make rebuilding the 7.9-mile trail along U.S. 95 from Appleway Avenue to Highway 53 a reality next year.

"I think we've done everything we need to do," said Commission Chairman Marc Eberlein, who earlier expressed funding and jurisdictional concerns before those were relieved.

The county also has been awarded a $147,000 grant through the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation to seal coat and repair the 23-mile Centennial Trail this year from the state line to Higgens Point. The grant requires a $62,000 local match for a total estimated project cost of more than $200,000.

Nick Snyder, the county's Parks and Waterways director, bounced the proposed U.S. 95 trail MOU off commissioners on Monday. The board verbally cleared the deal for today's signing.

"I just wanted to provide the (commissioners) one last Q&A session before I present the MOU for signature," Snyder said. "It’s taken several years and two different (boards) to get this put together so, I want to ensure everyone has had ample opportunity to review and discuss."

The trail was built in the ’80s and is broken up due to being largely unkept. No entity assumed responsibility to maintain the trail, but that is what is needed for ITD to leverage a grant to rebuild the trail that is expected to cost about $1 million.

"We are excited that we will be able to leverage federal funds to benefit the Coeur d’Alene area," said Megan Sausser, ITD spokeswoman.

Funds to reconstruct the path will come from a grant that will pay for other safety and mobility improvements to the U.S. 95 corridor.

After the MOU is signed, a separate agreement between the county and Coeur d'Alene will be signed to share maintenance of the trail. Hayden is unable to assist in the maintenance at this time.

Snyder estimates the cost for basic maintenance of its portion of the trail will be about $3,000 annually. ITD will retain ownership of the trail.

ITD hopes to eventually secure funding to expand the trail from Garwood to Athol. Snyder said the maintenance MOU will cover that stretch as well. The ultimate goal of trail advocates is to have a continuous trail from Coeur d'Alene to Sandpoint.

On the Centennial Trail grant match, the county, Coeur d'Alene and Post Falls are splitting the $50,000 cost and the nonprofit North Idaho Centennial Trail Foundation is chipping in $12,000. The project bid is expected to be awarded by Coeur d'Alene soon.

"The trail is in very good condition for its age because of these type of maintenance projects that we complete every five years or so, coupled with each respective jurisdiction’s day-to-day maintenance," said Snyder, who applied for the grant. "Without it, the trail would not be as nice as it is today."