The Archuleta County Board of Commissioners unanimously passed a motion at their regular meeting Oct. 6 to allow Special Projects Manager Karin Kohake to submit a grant proposal for up to $200,000 from the Colorado Lakes, Colorado Trails Program for a “Lake to Lake Trail” system extension in the Pagosa Lakes area.
The trail extension is being planned and built in conjunction with the Pagosa Lakes Property Owners Association, which would take over maintenance of the trail after its completion.
Contingent on the grant being awarded, the BoCC also approved a request for $100,000 to be taken from the 1A Parks and Recreation Fund for the project, as recommended by the PROST task force.
In addition to the possible grant and 1A funds, PLPOA has committed roughly $339,000 to the project.
In total, about one-third of the funding would come from the state.
The proposed trail additions extend the current trail and would be built in two locations, Kohake said.
The first, from Lyn Avenue to North Pagosa Boulevard, would be part of the Lake Forest Circle pedestrian pathway and would connect two existing trail pieces. This addition is approximately 3,600 lineal feet and has a base construction estimate of $274,065.
The second addition would extend from the existing trail system on a path from Eagles Loft Circle to Park Avenue , to Midiron Avenue and to Cloud Cap Avenue. The proposed new addition would be approximately 5,250 lineal feet. The estimated base cost of this section is $332,000.
The trail additions would be eight-foot-wide asphalt.
Total cost for the project is approximately $606,000.
“PLPOA feels that we’ll be able to save money by combining these two projects and can obtain a more competitive bidding situation,” Kohake said.
Larry Lynch represented PLPOA at the meeting. “By combining the two projects, we could potentially save $20,000, right off the top,” he said.
Lynch also said there’s a possibility the project cost could be further lessened if combined with planned road construction projects, which could potentially save thousands more.
If bids were to come in higher than expected, Lynch said the project would go as far as possible with the funds available.
If the grant is not awarded, Lynch said that, based on conversations with PROST and the commissioners, all money set aside for the project would likely be returned to the 1A fund.
PLPOA has already paid for much of the layout and design work, and engineering work has already been completed.
Commissioner John Ranson asked if the county engineer would be able to oversee the project since the county was committing funds.
Lynch explained that Davis Engineering would likely manage the project, though the county would have oversight since it is the entity submitting the grant proposal and is contributing funds.
County Administrator Greg Schulte added, “As the applicant for the grant, we’re responsible for the stewardship of the money.”
At the Oct. 6 meeting, Kohake said PLPOA initially submitted its funding request to the PROST task force in May 2009, when the committee unanimously recommended funding for the project, but it was put on hold pending what turned out to be a successful PLPOA vote to release funds.
“If the grant were awarded, we’d be set to go early on in the 2010 construction season,” Lynch said.
Because of the dependency on weather, the project would likely take at least 90 days to complete, Kohake said.
‘Town to Lakes Trail’
The county is currently still in the planning stages for the “Town to Lakes Trail” project, which would connect the Lake to Lake Trail System to the downtown area.
“It’s really just a matter of finalizing the last couple easements,” she said.
Once the last easements are secured, the county will be able to put out a request for proposals to design the trail, which they’d like to have done before winter. Construction grants cannot be applied for until a specific design is created.
The total cost of planning for the project is $77,000, with $20,000 coming from a grant awarded by Colorado State Trails, Kohake said.
