9.a.2 9-17-19 Gateway Trail Bonding RequestGateway Trail Into Scandia
Project Summary:
$4.95 million in state funds is requested to complete design, construction and furnishing of the
Gateway Trail from William O’Brien State Park Interpretive Center/campground complex to the
Scandia Village Center, and for further design and acquisition for the Gateway Trail extension
south of William O’Brien and north of Scandia.
Project Description:
The work will be completed in multiple phases (request is based on design work completed in
2017-18); all land assembly for the William O’Brien to Scandia segment is complete:
Project Phase descriptions Cost
• Final engineering and design and tunnel construction under
Washington County road 52, Oakhill Ave.
$1,250,000
• Final engineering and design of the trail through William
O’Brien State Park to its Interpretive Center/campground
complex, across challenging park terrain
$250,000
• Construction of the trail from the Scandia Village Center to
the park’s northern boundary—2 mile; design for this
segment is complete
$1,600,000
• Construction of the trail within William O’Brien State—1.5
miles
1,500,000
• Preliminary engineering from Pine Point Park to William
O’Brien and to identify the best route from the Scandia
Village Center toward Chisago County and the Swedish
Immigrant Regional Trail
$350,000
Total Requested. $4,950,000
Project Rationale:
In 2017 the state completed acquisition of the final easements for connecting the Gateway
State Trail from Marine on St. Croix, through William O’Brien State Park to Scandia. In 2018 the
legislature removed an Agricultural Preserve restriction to allow the final link of the Gateway
between William O’Brien and Scandia to be developed now. Predesign work on this portion of
the trail was completed in 2018 using previously appropriated funds and final design was done
on the William O’Brien to Scandia connection. This project is now ready to move ahead with the
final engineering of the tunnel and construction. The in-park connection requires final design
and engineering, but the location was identified and it is also ready to be implemented.
This project will result in the extension of the state’s most popular bike trail the additional 3.5
miles from the William O’Brien State Park campground and interpretive areas to the Scandia
Village Center. There is an existing off-road linkage from the Park to Marine on St. Croix. This
will allow access from the Park to two tot-lots, tennis courts, a skating rink, multiple sports fields
and the Gammelgarden Museum in Scandia, and complete a trail segment anticipated to have
very heavy use by families and children. This segment will also make possible on-road linkage
to points south to Pine Point Park and points north to the Swedish Immigrant Trail in Chisago
County. Design and engineering work for the north and south linkages is also proposed to be
funded to accelerate completion of the linkage to the Immigrant Trail and Interstate Park and
ultimately links to the Munger Trails to connect to Duluth.
While Scandia is a highly popular on-road bicycling destination, there is strong community and
state need for the off-road trails funded in this request to provide greater appeal and safety for
families and children that use the State Park and for the Scandia elementary school population.
Project Timeline:
2020
• Gateway Trail extension from the Scandia Village Center to the northern edge of William
O’Brien State Park, including tunnel construction under Washington County 52. Design
for this segment and for the tunnel has been completed
2020-2021
• Completion of final design and engineering of the trail within William O’Brien State Park
to its Interpretive Center/campground complex, across challenging park terrain.
Preliminary design and engineering has been completed on this segment
2021
• Construction of the trail within William O’Brien State Park
2020-22
• Land acquisition and engineering from Pine Point Park to William O’Brien; completion of
land acquisition may be done concurrently with design phase of the project and would
link the new sections to the existing Gateway and Browns Creek Trails
2020-22
• Exploration for the path of the Gateway Trail north of Scandia, toward Chisago County
and the Swedish Immigrant Regional Trail. Other considerations:
Scandia will cooperate with the DNR, Washington County, Chisago County, the cities of Marine
on St. Croix and Lindstrom and May Township in the various aspects of the design and
engineering to assure coordination and connection. Multiple local planning and community
groups will also be engaged, including Friends of Scandia Parks and Trails, Cycling Scandia,
the Gateway Trail Association, the Scandia Heritage Alliance and Gammelgarden Museum.
Scandia is currently one of the most popular on-road biking communities in the state due to its
30.6 miles of arterial roadways with full shoulders, it’s beautiful terrain, and its relatively low
traffic density.
Washington County in its 2010 Comprehensive Plan identified three routes as critical on-road
connections for cycling: Highway 97, County 15 (Manning Avenue) and County 3 (Olinda Trail).
All have full width shoulders. The County has supported this trail extension as bringing the
State trail to a location that accesses these three on-road routes and completing a connection
with high use. These on-road connections link Scandia to multiple county and state parks and
other trails including William O’Brien State Park, Big Marine Park Reserve, and the Hardwood
Creek State Trail and the Swedish Immigrant Regional Trail. See attachments.
Who will own the facility?:
The DNR will own the trails via easements across private property and on already owned public
land within the State Park.
Who will operate the facility?:
This is a State Trail and will be operated by the DNR.
Who will use or occupy the facility?:
The trails are open and accessible to all of the public for hiking, bicycling and horse riding.
Public Purpose:
Assuring a proper design is critical to advancement of the Trail, as is providing connections to
existing and proposed trails to provide the public with a well-designed and thoughtful system for
enjoying the state via walking, bicycling and horse riding. Moving forward with design and
construction of the Gateway Trail through this section of Scandia is a highly desirable addition to
recreational use of the State Park and will advance multiple longer term trail connection goals in
the region and toward the goal of an off road connection to Duluth from the Metro area
Impact on Operating Budget or Impact on State Operating Subsidies:
It is not expected these segments will materially increase state operating costs because the
State Park and Trail are already in existence and the State Park has staff and resources to
manage and maintain the new portions proposed.
Description of Previous Appropriations:
Multiple, including recent allocations for design and engineering within William O’Brien, for final
engineering between the Park and Scandia Village Center, for purchase of the easements
connecting the Park to the Scandia Village Center, and for easements between Pine Point Park
and William O’Brien, as well as multiple prior appropriations for the construction Gateway and
Browns Creek Trails. This appropriation would maximize the value of prior expenditures.
Statutory Program Citation:
Minn. Stat. 85.015