2024-10-28-minutes-public-works-and-cds-study-session

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KITTITAS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS PUBLIC WORKS — BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS STUDY SESSION STAFF REPORT STUDY SESSION DATE: October 28, 2024 TOPIC: Palouse to Cascades Trail Reconnection Proposal ACTION REQUESTED: Direct Staff LEAD STAFF: Joshua Fredrickson RECOMMENDATION: Provide direction to staff on support of grant application. BRIEFING SUMMARY: • The City of Ellensburg (City) is working to apply for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Community Change Grant • Grant funding would go towards completion of the Palouse to Cascades Trail Reconnection Route • Reconnection Route includes County property at Bowers Field and County road right-of-way • Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval and County project cost amounts are undefined at this time. BACKGROUND: There is interest from the City of Ellensburg in completing the Palouse to Cascades Trail Reconnection Route. This will address the gap in the trail between the current end points on Sanders Road and a point near Reecer Creek Road. A Notice of Funding Opportunity was issued by the EPA's Community Change Grant fund. This grant funding source could help to complete the section of trail. Grant applications are due November 21. DISCUSSION: The Palouse to Cascades Trail (formerly the John Wayne Pioneer Trail/Iron Horse State Park) stretches more than 285 miles across Washington. The trail route follows the historic route of the Chicago -Milwaukee -St. Paul -Pacific Railroad. The project being proposed reconnects the trail in the City of Ellensburg. The proposed project includes a trail section on County owned land, County right-of-way as well as private property. The County property is at Bowers Field. Bowers Road right-of-way is also included as part of the proposed route.