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City hears preferred alignment for US‑89 regional trail; open houses scheduled
Summary
Consultants presented a RAISE‑grant‑funded feasibility study that identifies a 45‑mile preferred 'spine' alignment paralleling US‑89 from Gunnison to Fairview. Engineers cited right‑of‑way constraints on Main Street and said the design will go to public comment with open houses in April.
Consultants updating a federally funded feasibility study for a proposed US‑89 regional trail told the Gunnison City Council on March 19 that they have identified a preferred alignment intended to serve as a 45‑mile spine connecting Gunnison with Fairview.
McClain Farmer, an engineer on the project, said Spring City applied for a federal RAISE grant to support the study and that the team has met with municipalities along the corridor to assess alignments and right‑of‑way constraints. "Spring City actually applied for a what's called the RAISE grant. It's a federal grant, that is competitive on a national level," he said. The team emphasized the study's aim to make future funding applications viable by producing preliminary designs.
Project staff described a green‑line alignment that generally parallels US‑89, uses 200 East through Gunnison to connect to an existing path, and avoids Main Street in places where parking and travel lanes make a dedicated trail infeasible. A presenter on the team said the preferred route keeps the corridor off the shoulder of the highway in locations where rumble strips and narrow shoulders would undermine cyclist safety.
Engineers stressed that the project is intended to separate users from highway traffic to increase safety and to function as a regional connector between Gunnison, Manti, Ephraim and Fairview. The presentation noted the planned work will be phased and that the team is still evaluating alternatives where right‑of‑way constraints remain.
The project team announced a public involvement schedule: open houses in Ephraim on April 10, Gunnison on April 23, and Mount Pleasant on April 29; a project website and QR code will allow citizens to submit location‑specific comments and to review maps. Officials said the public comment period will be used to refine alignments before final design and future grant applications.
Next steps include collecting public comment through the open houses and website, refining the preferred alignment where right‑of‑way or technical constraints require alternate options, and preparing application materials to compete for federal and state funding sources.
