| 11/3/2008 10:05:00 PM | Email this article • Print this article | Trail builders seek legal access
Support from the Union Pacific Railroad office in Colorado prompted local trail builders who want legal access through Salida rail yards to move a step farther Monday.
In a presentation during the Chaffee County Commissioners work session, Mike Harvey, project manager for the proposed Union Pacific trail said railroad officials in Denver favor the plan.
The next step will be to submit the plan to railroad real estate officials at the Omaha, Neb., headquarters. A decision about the trail access is up to those officials, Harvey said.
Recreation Engineering and Planning is preparing the proposal.
The goal is two miles of proposed trail from Marvin Park to its confluence with the South Arkansas River including a pedestrian underpass allowing legal access to Tenderfoot Mountain from Downtown Salida.
Harvey said railroad officials are aware of the trespassing issue beside the rail right-of-way which is popular with pedestrians and bicyclists. Railroad officials want to eliminate the trespassing and provide continued public access.
"The folks in Denver have been tremendously supportive," Harvey said. "Staff members have a positive view of Salida and are working on a neighborly solution."
Phase one of the project designed by Recreation Engineering and Planning, has a price tag of about $1 million.
"I don't want to speculate where the money will come from now, but it will be a mix of state and private funds," he said.
The phase will include an improved trail from Marvin Park to a culvert on the north side of the river from the old hospital. The trail will continue through the culvert and loop west toward Tenderfoot Mountain to connect with existing trails, he said.
The culvert is choked with weeds and debris, but once cleared, will have about 11 feet clearance at one end and 7 feet at the other.
It drains several arroyos from the Tenderfoot Mountain area and it's unknown how much water the culvert carries, but Harvey said during annual monsoons it's minimal.
As planned, a vegetative berm and signs will be used to keep pedestrians on the trail and away from railroad tracks.
A fence would be costly, attract vandals and wildlife wouldn't be able to cross, Harvey said.
Greater Arkansas River Nature Association will produce informational kiosks bearing railroad history. Union Pacific officials are interested in reconnecting the community with its railroad past, Harvey said.
Phases two and three of the trail will include extensions to the South Arkansas River and Vandaveer Ranch.
On another topic, Patricia St. Germain, director of the Woody Biomass Utilization Project updated commissioners regarding a gasification unit.
It would generate 600 kilowatts per hour and dispose of three-quarters of a ton of wood chips per day at Chaffee County Landfill.
St. Germain said her company, Global Biomass Network Project Inc., is seeking a Colorado Energy grant of $250,000 for the unit.
She asked commissioners for access to install the gasification unit in an existing building at the landfill.
In other business commissioners:
• Reviewed recommendations from the Oct. 28 planning commission meeting.
• Reviewed a request for a subdivision exemption at 27900 CR 301.
• Reviewed a request for a boundary line adjustment at 29095 CR 331.
• Heard a request from Salida for a reduction of land fill fees for disposal of the old public works building.
• Reviewed a request for a ground lease at Harriet Alexander Airport from Julia Stewart.
• Reviewed a request for renewal of the hotel and restaurant liquor license at Coyote Cantina, 12985 U.S. 24/285.
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