City seeks funds to extend RiverEdge Trail north to Gilbert Park; railroad crossing is key permit step

Community development staff asked the Capital Improvement Committee Thursday to include a RiverEdge Trail northern extension in the CIP, noting that securing a railroad crossing permit will be the critical path item for the project. Brad Len said the extension would run north from Winton Street through the city’s former county materials site and cross the railroad into Gilbert Park, closing a gap on the east side of the city’s RiverEdge Trail. “The big linchpin with this is getting that crossing of the railroad tracks as being new crossing,” Len said; staff intends to start the petition process with the Office of Commissioner of Railroads (OCR) soon and noted OCR timelines are independent of the city’s schedule. Staff identified a funding mix that could include room-tax dollars, TID cash and foundation donations. Len said about $250,000 in room-tax funds has been reserved for this northern section and that local philanthropy could supplement that amount; he also noted that if the project is not completed before the TID’s expenditure period ends the city would need another funding source. Committee members asked about the scope north of Gilbert Park and whether the city would be responsible for links further north; Len said planning for connections beyond Gilbert Park is ongoing and that funding responsibilities north of city property are not yet determined. Staff said earlier trail sections have used a similar mix of room-tax, foundation and city funds and that a ribbon-cutting is scheduled for a separate southern section on Aug. 4. The committee did not vote on funding; staff will provide updated CIP materials with detailed funding lines ahead of the next meeting.