Council places Crosstown Trail design task order on Oct. 21 agenda after staff outlines grant-funded planning work

Shelton City Council on Oct. 7 moved a resolution to the Oct. 21 action agenda that will authorize the city manager to approve a public-works on-call consultant task work order for phase 1 design of the Crosstown Trail.

Assistant Public Works staff described the project as a design effort spanning from Neyland Park to State Route 101, intended to produce a shovel-ready plan that could attract additional funding for construction. Staff said the council previously accepted a $200,000 Department of Commerce grant for initial design and that the city also secured a $250,000 grant for a phase 2 segment from Wallace Milen to the marina.

Assistant Public Works staff said project management of the design will be assigned to a public-works supervisor (Georgie Kumpels) and that the task work order before council is with Keller Associates. Staff described on-the-ground cleanup already under way along the rail corridor, noted trash and vegetation removal challenges, and said the design will consider a 12-foot trail where feasible and possible amenities along the route.

Mary (city clerk) read Resolution 1403-0925 into the record as "a resolution authorizing the city manager to approve a public works on-call consultant task work order for the Crosstown Trail Project phase 1 with Keller Associates." A council member moved and seconded placement of the resolution on the Oct. 21 agenda; the motion carried on a voice vote.

Staff said the project was originally supported by a direct appropriation from the city's legislative delegation and that the design effort aims to create a project ready for larger funding applications. Council members and staff noted the goal of ultimately connecting the trail to parking and transit opportunities at SR-101 and the marina area.