STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, COLORADO-August 15, 2024-The city was recently awarded a $2 million dollar grant from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) More Housing Now & Land Use Initiative, offered through DOLA’s Energy and Mineral Impact Assistance Fund, for the West Steamboat Trail Phase II.
“The West Steamboat Trail has been a community priority for over a decade,” said City Manager Gary Suiter. “The project will provide multi-modal access to the west for current and future residents through a safe means of travel that avoids US40 Highway.”
The West Steamboat Trail will connect current and future workforce housing and west neighborhoods to Steamboat Springs. The underpass and trail will create a safe off-highway and grade separated bicycle and pedestrian trail that will increase connectivity between the west neighborhoods and downtown, improve recreational access, and separate pedestrians from the highly congested and dangerous highway shoulder, currently the only route for pedestrians and bicyclists.
Phase II will include construction of the pedestrian underpass, 866 feet of trail and trail approaches, retaining walls, a dewatering system, and lighting. The trail will terminate on the north side at the secondary access road serving the Overlook Park Subdivision that is currently under construction.
Eventually the trail will be extended through the Brown Ranch property and make connections to the Sleeping Giant School and the Steamboat II and Silver Spur neighborhoods. No funding is currently allocated for this final trail portion.
“Council’s priority goals – Affordable/Attainable Housing, Transportation & Mobility and Environmental Sustainability – will all benefit from this essential community project,” commented Steamboat Springs City Council President Gail Garey. “This was a huge team effort to secure this valuable funding.”
In addition to the $2M DOLA grant, the city has received a number of other grants for funding including Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) Multimodal Transportation and Mitigation Options Fund, CDOT Transportation Alternative Program Fund, Congressional Directed Spending and Colorado Parks & Wildlife Non-Motorized Trails Grant. In addition, the project received $500,000 in partnership funding from Routt County.
Glenwood Springs based SGM Engineers is the design engineer for the project and planning, design and easement acquisition efforts have been underway since 2020.
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Contact
Gary Suiter, City Manager, 970.871.8240 or email
Ginger Scott, Grants & Project Management Specialist, 970.871.8215 or email
Matt Phillips, City Engineer, 970.871.8293 or email