Boardwalk built on sloping terrain

Building the Trail

TRAIL STATUS

 

ASPEN TO EMMA - PITKIN

In 1990 Pitkin County approved a Trail and Open Space tax.  It has since developed a bike/pedestrian trail from Aspen to Emma using  gravel, crushed gravel and asphalt paved sections.

 

EMMA TO GLENWOOD SPRINGS - RFTA

In November 2004 RFTA committed $5,000,000 over five years to complete the trail from Emma to Glenwood Springs by 2010.  It has received and is anticipating grants in 2006 bring the budget to $6,350,000. 

 

The first section of the trail from Emma to Hooks Lane has been completed.  In October 2005 the three mile section south of Carbondale to Catherine Store opened.  The next scheduled sections are between Hooks Lane and Catherine Store.

 

RFTA estimates the Rio Grande Trail will cost $8.5 million.  They don't have the money.  By their admission, at $8.5 million the chances are marginal for completing the trail by 2010. 

 

The trail is "the ultimate!"  It's a 15-foot wide platform with a paved multi-user high use trail permitting 3 people abreast and a separate gravel footpath for joggers.  It will be build over 45% of the roadbed.

 

Building an 8-foot trail can be accomplished for 75% of the cost.  The 8-foot trail cost will be $5.86 million.  Why stick with the ultimate trail plan when it results in delay and more taxes.

 

RFTA has $6.35 million for the trail.  The $5.86 million trail can be easily handled within the RFTA budget. There will be money left over to accelerate trail development.

 

To make up the overrun, staff has proposed scrapping the rails for cash and building the trail entirely over the railroad.  RFTA approved scrapping the rails from Emma to Glenwood Springs April 14, 2005..

 

AT&R is lobbying to only scrap the rails above Carbondale and, build a standard trail which it can afford and complete on time. The current plan for use of any salvage funds received is to make up a immediate budget deficit, not to build a trail, and burn the money in fuel expenses.  This a very short sighted use and vision; RFTA problems aren't going away.  RFTA anticipates $550,000 in salvage related  expenses.  The net income from salvage will be at most $650,000. 

 

RFTA has been offered leases for $1.2 million and $300,000 for using its rails.  R&T has shown (see above) a trail paralleling the railroad can be build at no additional cost.  All this talk about $3.2 million, $800,000 additional cost to accommodate an excursion train is a myth.

 

Below Carbondale removing the rails or placing the trail over the railroad destroys a $5,000,000 functioning railroad.  Put them to work earning income which can contribute to building the trail.  If the rails are leased, salvage is only delayed not lost.

 

Why build the parallel trail section; the controversy over the alignment ends and the trail can proceed at no additional cost, the rails remain to mark the preferred light rail alignment, the sections built now can be used in the future when light rail is implemented, a standard trail fits the budget and schedule and the $5 million operational railroad remains to earn income which can supplement trail costs.

Trail Ground Breaking at Emma

for Trail to Glenwood

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Trail Status

COST OF TRAIL AT EXCURSION TRAIN PINCH POINTS

White Paper

 

Summary

To accommodate a Glenwood-Orrison excursion train, there are 3000 feet of pinch points forcing off road bed construction of the trail between 23rd Street and Orrison.  Pinch points are defined as wetlands and places where the trail costs 30% more off than on the railroad bed.

 

The RFTA estimated cost of $800,000 for building the trail off the roadbed at these pinch points is unfounded.  In the trail sections where banking presents problems, there is no need to excavate and build retaining walls.  An elevated boardwalk can be built on the surface with minimal environmental impact.  It is faster and less expensive than an asphalt trail.  Using boardwalks, the trail cost at pinch points can be reduced to $52/ft which is considerably less than the RFTA cost, avoiding pinch points, of $75/ft.

 

Boardwalks can also be used in wetlands.  The conclusions reached for the Glenwood-Orrison route in this paper apply to the entire Glenwood-Carbondale route.  There is no added cost for a parallel trail along the entire route.

Boardwalk Trail Cost