Transportation and Connectivity of Trails

is currently the only east west off-road trail connection in the northeast Metro region and connects to trails that could lead to the Rocky Flats and Two Ponds NWR¿s. The trail link will be built on land in two cities: Commerce City and Denver; and on land owned by one special district, Park Creek Metro District. 1. Commerce City Southern Link Plan. Planning and design is needed for a trail from the Visitor Center at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR south to 56th Ave (the Commerce City limits). Commerce City will use this funding to complete 30-50% construction design drawings, environmental documentation, surveys for utilities, rights of way, and public involvement activities on a proposed trail alignment, north of 56th Avenue to the southern boundary of the RMANWR. A consultant would determine if there are any utility conflicts or grade challenges and complete 50% construction drawings. 2. Park Creek Metro District (PCMD). PCMD will use this funding to complete the Stapleton/Commerce City/SCRGP Link trail south of 56th Avenue along Spruce Street and Spruce Way to the underpass at Northfield Blvd and either west along Quebec Street to the pedestrian bridge over Sand Creek to the Sand Creek Regional Greenway trail or east through Northfield Ponds Park to the Conoco trail on the south side of Northfield Shopping Center to Central Park Blvd to the Sand Creek Regional Greenway trail. The project funds will be spent on 30-50% construction design drawings, environmental documentation, surveys for utilities and rights of way negotiations on a proposed trail alignment from Denver International Airport. 3. Sand Creek Regional Greenway Partnership (SCRGP) Parallel Trails Plan. SCRGP will complete 30-50% construction design drawings for parallel trails (one paved and one unpaved), environmental documentation, and surveys for utilities, rights of way, and public involvement activities on the Sand Creek Regional Greenway trail from 47th Avenue to Peoria Avenue. Connections to the RMANWR from the west, east, and north. 1. Northeast Greenway Corridor (NGC) Restoration Plan. SCRGP will administer the funds and provide them to NGC Restoration Plan project. The Northeast Greenway Corridor (NGC) is an inter-jurisdictional partnership comprised of Adams County, the city of Aurora, the city of Brighton, the city of Commerce City, the city and county of Denver, the city of Thornton, the Office of the Colorado Attorney General, and the Sand Creek Regional Greenway Partnership. Through a Cooperative Agreement, this partnership is developing a plan for creation of a network of urban greenways, trails and open spaces near the RMANWR extending from Denver to Brighton and from Commerce City to Aurora known as the Greenway Project. The Restoration Plan will create and preserve first class habitat to complement the outstanding natural resources at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge. A new system of stream and river corridors, riparian ecosystems, wildlife migration routes, and recreational trails will provide an integrated greenway and open space network across jurisdictional boundaries. The planning funds will be used to establish the best routes for off-the-road pathways and greenways to link to the RMANWR, environmental documentation, surveys for utilities, rights of way negotiations, and extensive public involvement and outreach activities. 2. The O¿Brian Canal Trail Plan will be a major north/south connection in Commerce City with links east to the RMANWR. The portion of the trail from 128th Ave. south to 96th Ave. is already in the design process. Planning and design is needed for a trail along the canal from 96th Ave. south to the Sand Creek Regional Greenway Trail (which connects to the South Platte River Greenway). This trail would connect many more people to the RMANWR, Two Ponds NWR, and Rocky Flats NWR. The Farmers Irrigation and Reservoir Company (FRICO) owns the canal and the city will begin working with them soon to negotiate a recreational easement allowing a trail to be constructed adjacent to the canal where their maintenance road currently exists. This southern section of the O¿Brian Canal Trail would connect to the Platte River Greenway Trail at 70th and Colorado (Commerce City¿s Fernald Trail) and it would connect to the Sand Creek Trail at approximately 62nd Ave.