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Carver County lays out five-year plan to preserve and expand trails, eyes new state active-transportation funding
Summary
County public-works staff presented a condition assessment of county-managed trails and a preservation plan targeting a Pavement Condition Index (PCI) goal of 85; the county estimated roughly $3 million over five years for county-managed trails and highlighted a new state "active transportation" fund that could supply $3'$4 million a year for active-transportation projects.
Carver County staff presented a multi-part briefing on June 9 outlining the condition of the county's trail system, maintenance practices and a funding plan to preserve and, in some places, expand trails.
Public-works staff summarized a new condition assessment that used camera-mounted pavement rating technology and industry-standard scoring (pavement condition index or PCI). The assessment showed most county-managed trail segments were in good condition but identified roughly 7% in poor condition and about 22% fair — the segments county staff said needed preservation or repaving to avoid far costlier rebuilds.
The presentation laid out a five-year preservation target: bring targeted segments up to a PCI of 85. Staff described annualized construction-and-delivery needs of roughly $356,000 per year for county-managed trails (about $1.8 million over five years, plus project delivery costs), and higher totals if regional corridors and non-county trails are included. "The new fund that I mentioned is called the active transportation fund ... that will generate three to four million a year just for active transportation," a staff speaker said, noting the state transportation-advancement account as a new revenue source the county could use to accelerate preservation and better prioritize new projects.
Lance Bernard, the consultant assisting the county's parks-and-trails capital improvement plan, said the county's future-trails prioritization emphasizes closing small urban gaps and building trails "for all ages and all abilities," using a mix of city partnerships, regional grant applications and targeted county investments.
Board discussion focused on tradeoffs: preserve existing infrastructure or use some of the active-transportation money to build new connections. Staff noted some non-county trails were built by cities and recommended additional cost-share conversations with municipal partners. Commissioners also flagged maintenance implications: once new trails are built they require ongoing upkeep that can affect the county levy and staffing.
Staff said they would prepare a five-year CIP with candidate projects and cost shares for the board's consideration and would continue city coordination and grant applications.
