2010-117 RES APPROVING THE EXECUTION OF AN APPLICATION FOR A TEXAS PARKS & WILDLIFE RECREATIONAL TRAILS GRANT FOR EXTENDING TRAIL DE PARIS FROM 8TH ST SE ALONG THE RAIL CORRIDOR W TO 1ST ST SW

Home Browse Search

Texas Parks & Wildlife Department Grant Application for Texas Recreational Trails Fund 6. DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT Please provide a clear and concise description of the proposed project in the space below. Include a description of the trail length, width, surfacing, and configuration (loop, linear, network); trailhead and trailside amenities. Detail all work to be performed; any right-of-way or easements to be acquired; the relationship between project and any other work planned or existing; partnerships andlor community involvement; and educational/interpretive aspects of the project. (Limit to 1 page). This linear, active use recreational Trail project will feature Rails-with-Trails sections located adjacent to a Union Pacific (UP) Raifroad spur line that is operated by Kiamichi Railroad (KR). The City of Paris has partnered with KR and Crossroads Properties, Inc. (CPI) in developing the Trail route and has received 25 foot recreational easement agreements through their properties; KR=2,323 LF, CP1=972 LF, City of Paris (ROW)=899 LF. The Trail will begin on the west side of 8tn Street SE where the spur ends and will connect to the 5-mile Trail de Paris and Reno Rail Trail built on the UP RR abandoned rail banked Greater Paris Development Foundation (GPDF) corridor and proceed west 4,194 LF to 4th Street SW. The Trail route will only cross the active spur corridor once. There are two future trailheads with parking and park facilities planned: on CPI property at 3`d Street SE and Jackson Street. and on donated land at 4th Street SW and Hearne. A 4' to 6' chain link fence will be installed between the Trail and active spur to enhance separation. It will not be part of the funding request. The surrounding land use is a mix of small businesses, light industry, and a few residents. Please see enclosed route photos that ars referenced on aerial project map. Some of the trail section will require clearing brush and removing in-place rails and ties, rough grading just enough corridor width to fill and lay a 12' wide all weather asphalt trail with 2' crushed granite shoulders. It will be handicap accessible. Benches, bike racks, safety bollards, regulatory signage, traffic calming, and trash receptacles will be placed at strategic locations. Rail-to-Trail safety design and security will the projects top priority. We will follow AASHTO Guidelines, USDOT Rail-with-Trail: Lessons Learned Report, and Rails-with-Trails Conservancy Report. This Trail project is the destination gateway for active transportation expansion to three additional abandoned railroad (RR) corridors. At 4th Street SW. it will tie into a southwest UP abandoned RR corridor that will serve as an Inter-City/Trail link to the 57-mile Chaparral rail banked corridor through 7 rural towns to Farmersville. Also at 4th Street SW it will join a west to north UP abandoned RR corridor that will be an Intra-city Paris/Trail to the city's Heritage Park, Lamar County Chamber of Commerce and Historical Museum. From this tocation the City of Paris owns a third north to east abandoned RR corridor that will connect to two Paris ISD schools, a City park and walking trail, and the Red River Valley Boys and Girls Club Facility. This will be the 7th Trail extension project to the original 2.5-mile Trail de Paris completed in 2005. Three expansions have been completed: 1) East-funded by TPWD Recreational Trail Fund and 3 local Foundations; 2) South-funded by Kimberly-Clark Foundation, Lamar County, Pct. #2, and 5 Paris Banks; and 3) a Paris to Reno collaborative Trail project. Two extension projects funded by TPWD Recreational Trails Fund are to be completion by 2010 years end. They are the Trail de Paris west expansion from 12th Street SE to 8'h Street SE, and the Reno Rail Trail expansion from Airport Road to Reno's east city limit. Applications have been submitted to TxDOT's Safe-Route- to School Program for Paris ISD that will use the Trail de Paris to link 3 of their schools together and an Enhancement Grant to extend the Recreational Trail system from Reno's east city limit through Lamar County to Blossom's east city limit. Lamar County is its sponsor. Please see enclosed Recreational Master Plan map showing all these extensions and for more detailed map presentation visit the Trail website at www.traildeparis.orq. Please see enclosed pictures displaying results of some of the successful Trail de Paris partnership programs and projects. A continuing partnership exists with GPDF to obtain funding to convert the remaining 30 miles of its rail-banked corridor eastward to Clarksville.