Title
RESOLUTION PRIORITIZING SHARED USE PATH CONSTRUCTION IN THE CITY OF DULUTH.
Body
CITY PROPOSAL:
RESOLVED, that the following is the priority for the installation of shared use path construction in the city of Duluth, and that the city intends to construct or rehabilitate existing shared use paths and bridges as soon as possible when the funds become available as shown by the attached maps labeled Exhibit A:
New Construction:
Cross City Trail connecting S. Central Avenue to the Munger Trail at Pulaski Street
59th Ave. West from Irving Park to Raleigh Street
Raleigh Street from 59th Ave. West to the Burlington Northern Right of way
Connections from the upper side of Grand Avenue to the existing DWP trail
Campus Connectors
Central Entrance
Blatnik Bridge and Garfield Ave.
Railroad Street
DWP Connection to Hermantown Trails
DWP Connection to Proctor Trails
Marten Trail
Rehabilitate Existing Infrastructure:
Bridge 69885 over I-35 at 11th Ave. W.
Lakewalk from Canal Park to approximately 29th Ave. East
Shared use path from Clearwood Drive to E. 13th Street
Lesure Street
Statement of Purpose
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: This resolution will provide a guide to staff as various grant opportunities become available, and as development or reconstruction occurs along these corridors. Many plans and studies have been completed, or underway regarding road, bridge or trail work and the list is not in any particular order. In addition to the new construction proposed, existing infrastructure is also in need of reconstruction or rehabilitation. Those needs include the portions of Lakewalk in Canal Park constructed in the late 1980’s, the bridge over I-35 near the M&H station, Lesure Street, and the paved path adjacent to Harbor Highlands between Pecan and E.13th Street adjacent to the prior Central HS property. Both new construction and maintenance of existing facilities are required for the city residents and visitors to continue to enjoy multi-modal shared use connectivity.
This resolution, and Exhibit A attached indicates the proposed routes for completion of Cross City Trail system. Due to the 2023 federally funded Cross City Trail Segment 3 is moving to final design, we want to reaffirm the city’s commitment to completing the Cross City Trail, specifically the section along the Burlington Northern property that parallels Grand Avenue. As we don’t have the easement in hand at the time of this writing for the portion along Grand Avenue, we need to have alternatives ready, so that staff can modify the project as need be, prior to final review by MnDOT and FHWA this winter. Our priority for the 2023 project is shown in green on the attached Exhibit A. The segments proposed for 2023 construction include a new shared use path from S. Central Avenue to S. 59th Ave. West, and from the Kingsbury Creek Bridge to Grand Avenue.
On October 5, 2022 a public meeting was held by the Parks, Planning and Engineering Division, with members of the bike community in strong attendance. These priorities align with the members in attendance. The overwhelming number one priority for the attendees of that meeting is the completion of the Cross City Trail.
It is important to consider as we grow and maintain our shared use trail system, that new construction and ongoing maintenance has been a struggle due to our limited resources. In addition, some of the planned segments shown are not on city routes, and therefore adds additional uncertainty regarding our maintenance capacity. Construction of new segments is, in some cases, contingent upon still uncertain agency commitments to routine and long term maintenance of any new segments. It is difficult to maintain what we have, let alone add more miles. Unless additional funding is dedicated, our maintenance response and ability to clear snow will become slower than it already is.