09.e2 Memo 21-11 Update on Gateway Trail Expansion ProjectPage 1 of 2
City of Scandia
14727 209 th St. N. PO Box 128, Scandia, Minnesota 55073
Phone (651) 433 -2274 Fax (651) 433 -5112 http://www.ci.scandia.mn.us
DATE: July 16, 2021
FROM: Ken Cammilleri, City Administrator
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
RE: Update on Gateway Trail Project
Gateway Trail Project Status Update
The Gateway State Trail Project continues to make substantial progress. To date, the trail
project has the greatest potential for state funding as necessary land acquisition. This is
primarily because the current trail segment has all of the necessary easements in place. Three
phases have been established for funding the buildout of the existing segments.
The project currently does not require additional City funding at this time. A remaining
$30,000 to $35,000 from Mn DNR Parks and Trails is still available to us to help cover costs
of planning and engineering work for the trail. The project continues to maintain support
from the DNR for the project’s advancement.
Planning work will be required in the future to establish a trail corridor north to the Chisago
County Border.
The current trail is a route from the City’s Annex Building (Formerly the fire hall) to the
north boundary of William O’Brien State Park. The project will require a slight realignment
of the roadbed of Oakhill Road and the construction of a tunnel underneath it.
Phase I, shown in Exhibit A in yellow, is the segment of trail that is ready for
construction. The preliminary engineering work is complete and the cost of construction of
this segment is anticipated to be approximately $500,000. This includes some improvements
to the trailhead at the Annex. Currently, tentative plans are to submit a Legislative-Citizen
Commission on Minnesota Resources (LLCMR) request for funds from the Environment
and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF) in 2022. We also likely seek another grant
through the US DOT's Recreational Trails Program (RTP) for additional trailhead
improvements. This particular grant provides a maximum $150,000, and the 25% match
requirement can be met with ENRTF funding. A resolution to authorize these requests can
be expected to come to the City Council later this year.
Phase II, shown in Exhibit A in green in the lower left of the map, consists of a 2,000-foot
trail segment along County Road 52 (Oakhill Road) that will require a centerline shift of the
roadway resulting in grade changes to allow for adequate height clearance for the pedestrian
underpass. The project also requires a temporary detour. The current estimated cost for
this phase is between $1.04 million and $1.3 million. The funds are also expected to be
Page 2 of 2
City of Scandia
14727 209 th St. N. PO Box 128, Scandia, Minnesota 55073
Phone (651) 433 -2274 Fax (651) 433 -5112 http://www.ci.scandia.mn.us
obtained either through a state bonding request or state ENRTF funds. Further planning
with the Washington County Public Works Department is needed to bring this project closer
to shovel ready status.
Phase III of the trail segment is from the Hwy 52 tunnel to the north boundary of William
O'Brien State Park. This phase would be sought for 2023 if 2022 funding is
obtained. However, completion of this trail segment is also dependent on the status of trail
improvements being made in the park. The anticipated cost for that year would be
approximately $528,000. This 0.8 mile stretch of trail will cost between $320,000 to
$400,000. Soil borings and engineering work will be required to complete this segment.
Exhibit A
Please let me know if you have any questions.