Commissioners consider FLAP application for Poncha Springs–Marshall Pass trail using old railroad grade

County staff briefed commissioners on a concept-level opportunity to apply to the Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP) for a multi-use trail that would connect Poncha Springs to the Marshall Pass railroad-grade corridor. Gary Baker described a potential alignment using the old railroad grade and said the concept could be phased. “FLAP supplements state local resources for public roads, transit systems, and other transportation facilities with access on high use, recreation sites, and economic generators,” he said, framing the program’s purpose and why a trail linking federal lands could be competitive.

Staff and commissioners stressed the importance of partner commitments for ongoing maintenance. The staff presentation noted that while FLAP guidance no longer requires a local monetary match (as of recent guidance discussed in the meeting), the county would still need delegated maintenance responsibility unless a partner such as Spot agreed in writing to accept upkeep. Order-of-magnitude cost discussion ranged widely; staff cited very rough comparisons suggesting total build costs could be in the multi‑million-dollar range (a very preliminary $10,000,000 figure was mentioned for larger build-outs). Commissioners asked staff to return with a sketch, partner letters and a phased plan for an August submission window. A staff-led technical meeting was proposed for late August to advance the application materials.

Next steps: staff to pursue partner outreach (Spot and local towns), prepare a sketch and draft agreements, and present a follow-up report in early August for board consideration before the FLAP deadline.