Funding Application
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1 of 6 Funding Application Competition Regional TAP Application Type Bicycle and Pedestrian Status submitted Submitted: September 20th, 2017 4:35 PM Project Information 1. Project Title Centennial Trail South (Snohomish to Woodinville) 2. Transportation 2040 ID 4161 3. Sponsoring Agency Snohomish County 4. Cosponsors N/A 5. Does the sponsoring agency have "Certification Acceptance" status from WSDOT? Yes 6. If not, which agency will serve as your CA sponsor? N/A Contact Information 1. Contact name Tracy McMillan 2. Contact phone 425-388-3815 3. Contact email [email protected] Project Description 1. Project Scope This grant will provide the funding required to complete 100% design and obtain development permits for 12 miles of the Centennial Trail, in Snohomish County. The new pedestrian/bicycle trail will complete the connection between the existing southern terminus of the Centennial Trail in the City of Snohomish and the King County line, near the north boundary of the City of Woodinville, where it will connect with King County’s extensive trail system. When built, the project will provide a 12-foot wide asphalt trail with a 2-foot wide gravel shoulder on either side. The trail alignment will parallel an existing rail alignment and be physically separated with a ditch, grade separation, or fencing. Due to the varying topography along the corridor, and for accommodation of adjacent land uses and railroad operations, the trail will cross the railroad at three strategic locations to best accommodate the new pedestrian/bicycle path. Each of these at-grade crossings will provide a curved entrance to slow bicyclists as they cross perpendicular to the tracks, and have advance safety signage prior to and at the crossing location to direct users to stop and watch for rail traffic. Three public parking areas will be located along the trail for trailhead access which will also provide public parking areas will be located along the trail for trailhead access which will also provide 2 of 6 direct connections to the Bob Heriman Wildlife Park at Thomas' Eddy and a large County park currently in design in Maltby. The existing railroad will be preserved for continued use as a route for freight hauling and potential future use with an excursion or commuter train. The design for the 12-mile long project will be strategically divided into three sections, each with independent utility and logical termini to allow for construction in independent, logical phases as construction funding becomes available. 2. Project Justification, Need, or Purpose Background Information: Snohomish County was awarded a CMAQ grant in 2014 for this project (formerly referred to as Eastside Rail/Trail). There were Right-of-Way complications which prevented Snohomish County from purchasing the Eastside Rail property and the project was put on hold. The CMAQ grant funds were returned in 2015. In 2016, Snohomish County was able to purchase the $3.5M right-of-way corridor from the Port of Seattle and has been moving forward with the design of this important project, investing over $1.8M to date. The Centennial Trail is a major regional asset, currently supporting approximately 500,000 users per year and over 850,000 once King County completes their connection. The trail currently stretches between the Skagit/Snohomish County line to the City of Snohomish and provides recreation opportunities as well as a significant non-motorized commute option. The current Centennial Trail connects the cities of Arlington, Marysville, Lake Stevens, and Snohomish and is planned to connect to the Whitehorse Trail, providing an additional 27 mile corridor accessing the Oso community and the town of Darrington. The new ped/bike path will extend the Centennial trail to serve the large population centers of south Snohomish County and King County and complete a continuous regional trail from Skagit County through King County and eventually to Pierce County. Use of this trail will grow significantly when the connection is completed to the King County trail system in Woodinville. Future planned connections include extensions to the cities of Stanwood and Monroe. The new ped/bike path will fill a missing transportation link between the current end of the Centennial Trail and the larger regional trail system which extends into King County, providing an important non-motorized transportation corridor for a commute alternative. The project will enhance the safety and environment for non-motorized travel between the cities of Snohomish and Woodinville, and the areas of Cathcart and Maltby in-between. Cyclists will have an alternative to busy County roads and State highways. The bike/ped path will also create a destination for recreational bicycle riders as it will provide a continuous 42-mile route through scenic areas of northern Puget Sound. Bicycling in the rural Snohomish and Maltby areas is very popular, especially on weekends, but most riders have to resort to roadways without a formal shoulder or much separation from traffic. This project will provide a safe facility for bicyclists to commute and for recreational opportunities, promote efficient travel, and improve the environment by advancing a "healthier" transportation system. Project Location 1. Project Location North-South within an acquired railroad corridor (formerly BNSF owned railway), between the City of Snohomish and the King County line near Woodinville 2. Please identify the county(ies) in which the project is located. Snohomish 3. Crossroad/landmark nearest the beginning of the project 515 1st Street, Snohomish, WA 4. Crossroad/landmark nearest the end of the project 24309 Woodinville Snohomish Road, Woodinville, WA 5. Map and project graphics Regional_Trail_Map.pdf, Trail_Map_SnohCo_Trail_Network_Highlight.pdf, Vicinity_Map_mapbook_index.pdf, SnoCoBicycleTrailMap.pdf, Vicinity_Map_drainage_report.pdf Plan Consistency 1. Is the project specifically identified in a local comprehensive plan? Yes 2. If yes, please indicate the (1) plan name, (2) relevant section(s), and (3) page number where it can be found. 1. This project is identified specifically in the Snohomish County Growth Management Act Comprehensive Plan and also generally supports Snohomish County Policies. The project is Comprehensive Plan and also generally supports Snohomish County Policies. The project is 3 of 6 also generally identified in the City of Snohomish’s Comprehensive Plan. 2. Snohomish County 2035 Comprehensive Plan (consisting of 5 documents – relevant portions noted below) -a. General Policy Plan --i. Project supports Park and Recreation Policies, specifically: ---1. PR Policy 1.A.1 (page PR -2) “Coordinate with cities, towns, school districts, park districts, and other junior taxing districts to develop an integrated system of passive and active parks, open spaces, and trails that are accessible to all residents of the county, cities, and towns” ---2. PR Policy 1.B.1 (page PR -2) “Coordinate with Skagit and King Counties’ cities and towns and with Skagit and King Counties in planning and constructing Regional Trails” ---3. PR Policy 2.A.5 (page PR – 3) “Prioritize developing Regional Trails” ---4. PR Policy 4.A.2 (page PR – 4) “Acquire, develop, or expand park facilities as identified in the Park and Recreation Element” --ii. Project Supports Transportation Policies, specifically: ---1. TR 3.A.3 (page TR – 8) “A safe system of bicycle and pedestrian facilities shall be planned for, tying together residential areas, schools, recreation areas, business areas, transit stops and transfer points, and centers” ---2. TR 10.D.6 (page TR – 21) “Interim or co-existing uses, such as freight rail, non-motorized transportation, and recreational actives shall be considered and planned for within commuter rail corridors” -b. Capital Facilities Plan – The County’s annual budget is a component of the Capital Facilities Plan and the current budget (2017) identifies the Centennial Trail South project. -c. Park and Recreation Element - Development of the Centennial Trail between the City of Snohomish and King County line is specifically identified in the Park and Recreation Element on page 70 of the document. 3. City of Snohomish Comprehensive Plan (rev. March 2016) generally identifies this project on page 5-7, within PARK ELEMENT GOALS AND POLICIES, policy PRO 1.3, which talks about regional linkages and regional partnerships to finish trail linkages to the Centennial Trail. 3. If no, please describe how the project is consistent with the applicable local comprehensive plan, including specific local policies and provisions the project supports. N/A Federal Functional Classification 1. Functional class name 00 Not applicable (transit, enhancements, Etc.) Support for Centers 1. Describe the relationship of the project to the center(s) it is intended to support. For example, is it located within a designated regional, countywide or local center, or is it located along a corridor connecting to one of these areas? The City of Snohomish is situated at the south end of the existing 29-mile long Centennial Trail, a cycling corridor that connects the cities of Arlington, Marysville, Lake Stevens, and Snohomish, and is the north end of the proposed trail extension. The City of Woodinville is located at the south end of the planned Centennial Trail South ped/bike path which will link up with a wide network of paths and trails in the large population centers in King County. This project will complete the necessary link for non-motorized users to travel south near the SW Urban Growth Area (SWUGA),