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Arden Hills seeks $1.65 million in state help for final stretch of Old Highway 10 trail
Summary
City officials and residents urged the Capital Investment Committee to fund a 1.25‑mile pedestrian and bicycle trail along Old Highway 10, citing student safety and connections to regional trail systems; the city asked the committee to consider a $1.65 million state request with substantial local and county matches.
City of Arden Hills officials asked the Capital Investment Committee for $1.65 million in state capital funding to build the final 1.25-mile segment of a trail along Old Highway 10 that they said is a key safety connection for schoolchildren and local residents.
Council member Emily Russo testified that the stretch of highway currently lacks a trail, forcing students and other pedestrians to use a narrow dirt shoulder and steep ditches along a 45 mph corridor. Russo told the committee the city has shovel-ready engineering plans and that the local match is substantial: she said the city’s general fund expenditure budget is approximately $6,700,000 and that Ramsey County has committed $700,000 toward the project. The city also reported a $1,000,000 award through the Metropolitan Council Safe Routes to School program.
A representative for the city said the requested state funds would be locally matched and that the project would connect County Highway 96 to Lake Valentine Road and link into the North Metro Regional Trail System. Testimony emphasized student safety: speakers repeatedly noted children and groups who walk or run along the highway and the risk from newly licensed drivers.
Committee members asked no substantive follow-up questions at that time. No formal committee vote or appropriation occurred during this hearing; the presentation was an informational capital request to be considered as the committee fashions its bonding recommendations.
