September 1, 2023
Honorable La Plata County
Commissioners Church, Porter-Norton, and Salka,
We request that the 2024 County budget include sufficient funds to plan and design the first phase of the Hermosa to Durango Bike Trail (H2D Trail). The idea of such a trail has been discussed for many years. This spring, a considerable leap forward occurred when CDOT agreed that a trail on the west side of U.S. 550 within the existing highway easement is allowable and will meet the state goal of providing multimodal transportation. This easement provides a safe and available existing easement location for an eight-foot-wide bike trail with the opportunity to add an adjacent running/walking path.
The H2D Trail will be a positive step toward goals set forward by the County in the 2023 Strategic Plan. The Plan seeks to create a County that is:
Safe – currently, the shoulder of the highway is used for biking, running, and walking for tourists, residents, and visitors to the Hermosa Valley. The increased traffic, speed of the traffic and increase in recreationists are now a dangerous mix that will continue to grow in the future. Adding a bike trail increases community and visitor safety.
Healthy – providing a safe alternative for travel to town or training and recreation for runners, walkers, and bikers, particularly families with young children, offers an opportunity for exercise that supports the health of its users. County Roads 250 and 203 are often very congested and do not provide a direct path to the Animas River Trail. In addition to benefits to H2D users, the Trail will also benefit non-users and future generations by reducing greenhouse gas emissions created from driving. All will benefit from a trail that supports healthy travel and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
Economically viable – adding a safe, family-friendly trail adds to the economic vitality of the Hermosa Valley by creating an appealing travel and recreation corridor, improving access to the businesses scattered in the Valley from the south to the north. These include restaurants, bed and breakfasts, camping venues, tour operations, and other small businesses. Providing alternative travel options can also decrease road and parking congestion, improving access to all companies and providing rapid, low-cost access for residents to workplaces.
In the spring of 2023, the H2D Trail was unanimously added to the Southwest Transportation Planning Region 2045 Long Range Plan. This means that the regional transportation Board will review and rate all projects in the plan every other year. Over the years, projects with the most support and need will rise toward the top. At some point in the future, the H2D trail will move to the CDOT 10-year plan to build.
There is a rare opportunity now to leverage federal funds through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act. Supporters of the H2D Trail are studying these unprecedented funding opportunities. We will apply for grants as they become available, and work together with the County, to support our vision without unduly burdening the County or its staff.
A subgroup may form a new not-for-profit entity solely dedicated to completing the Hermosa to Durango Trail (H2D Trail) if appropriate. The non-profit will manage the project, raise funds, bid the project, and provide construction management for the various segments of the project.
Before the H2D Trail can be created and provide safety, health, and economic benefits, County support for the citizen-led effort is critically needed. We urge you to support this unique opportunity with the hope and expectation that the successful fundraising and grants for the H2D Trail will raise all the funds needed. Including the initial planning and design funds in the 2024 county budget, estimated at $250,000 will jump-start the project and set us well on the way to leverage county funds. More detailed information about the location and community support is available at www.hermosatodurangobiketrail.com.
Respectfully Submitted,
Cathy Craig
Daryl Crites
Jack Llewellyn
Cathy Metz
Peggy Montaño
Rick O’Block
Christina Rinderle
Sen. Ellen Roberts
Chris Vivolo
Stephanie Weber
Bob Wolff
Patti Zink
Sidny K. Zink
The Durango Chamber of Commerce, Durango Trails, and 52 Other supporters who voiced support for the trail on the website
Enclosures:
Fact Sheet for H2D Trail Phase 1 sheet
Durango Herald Articles
PHASE 1 of this multi-year project will deliver the following in 8 to 12 months after award:
Scope all of the Environmental / Cultural Resources clearances needed for the entire 6.5-mile trail, so we have them ready for future design-construction phases.
A topographic survey within the right-of-way for the northern 1,800’ segment.
A floodplain survey for Bridge Hydraulics Modeling of Hermosa Creek.
A bridge hydraulic Study and FEMA Coordination.
Remit FEMA Permitting Fees.
Provide the Hermosa Creek pedestrian bridge structural engineering ready for bid.
Perform geotechnical engineering for the bridge foundations, and a general soils report.
During the Phase 1 timeline, supporters will privately raise community funds to build the “ED ZINK MEMORIAL BRIDGE.” CDOT will allow for the construction of the bridge. We will also be looking for grant funds to complete the remaining construction of the first phase.
The privately raised money will be used in the future as matching funds for grant requirements. This should carry us well into the future regarding local match requirements of grants.
The next known grant available will be the Multimodal Transportation and Mitigation Options Fund (MMOF) in 2024. We will have CDOT and Region 9 looking for other funding opportunities they may discover. If we start this project, we could get a significant grant with the project already underway.
Fact Sheet for Hermosa to Durango Trail (H2D Trail)
Approximate Length of Trail: 6.5 miles
Trail Location alongside U.S. 550: West side of the pavement below highway grade along the existing utility poles.
Beginning to End Point: at the intersection of County Road 203 and U.S. 550 to the South end of CR 203 and U.S. 550 (We will coordinate with the city on the exact location when they complete the north end of the Animas River Trail.)
Surface concrete 6” thick.
Width: 10 feet with a possible additional gravel path separated for runners/walkers
One pedestrian bridge will be needed at Hermosa Creek due to the existing narrow highway bridge at that location.