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County asked to fund $70,800 match for Castle Rock Huntington Avenue trail segment
Summary
City of Castle Rock requested $70,800 from the county Path and Trails Fund to help pay for a 650-foot paved trail, lighting and a school crossing on Huntington Avenue; county staff outlined fund rules, balance and past contributions.
Mike Moss, public services director, told the Cowlitz County Board of Commissioners that the county had received a request from the City of Castle Rock for a match from the county Path and Trails Fund. Sean Roey, finance manager for public works, said the fund is seeded by a share of the motor vehicle fuel tax and currently has a balance “of $842,000 and change,” with annual additions of about $51,000 and a statutory minimum contribution of 0.42%. Roey said the county currently contributes 2.5% of the motor vehicle fuel tax to the fund, above the statutory minimum.
Dave Vorce, representing the City of Castle Rock, described the project as part of the Six Rivers regional trail plan and asked the county to contribute $70,800 toward a $669,000 project. “The total cost of this project is about $669,000. And what we're looking for of a match, out of this fund is 70,800 or any part thereof,” Vorce said. Vorce said the scope before the county would pay for 650 feet of new asphalt trail leaving the restroom area by Lion’s Pride and connecting to the shoulder of Huntington Avenue, nine pedestrian-style lights, and a crossing at Larson Lane intended to improve safety for schoolchildren.
Vorce told the commissioners the city’s in-kind investment includes installing electrical conduit and junction boxes and that city crews will later install about 950 feet of six-foot sidewalk valued at $225,000. Vorce said the city has a separate grant for $373,900 toward the project and that the requested county contribution would be a partial match. Roey summarized eligibility: the RCW definition for paths and trails allows funding for public ways constructed primarily for pedestrians, equestrians and bicyclists and distinguishes trails from ordinary sidewalks.
Commissioners asked about feasibility of extending the trail to nearby developments and about whether the area is a hazardous walking route for schoolchildren; Vorce said the route is one of the school district’s hazardous walking paths and the project includes a safer crossing at Larson Lane. Commissioners expressed informal support and asked staff to work with Castle Rock on budget timing and years for the county match, but no formal motion or vote was recorded during the meeting.
Next steps: staff will work with Castle Rock and return with budget timing and any formal recommendation. The county did not take a formal vote at the meeting.
