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• <br /> PRIORITY CRITERIA <br /> 1 . The degree to which the proposed project fulfills the <br /> intent of ISTEA. <br /> The development of a pedestrian and biking trail will <br /> provide a very interesting recreation facility while <br /> preserving the abandoned railway corridor. The purchase <br /> of the railway right-of-way by the City of Elk River <br /> showed a great amount of foresight. As plans move forward <br /> to develop a pedestrian and biking trail, there is an ever <br /> increasing local interest in this type of recreation as <br /> well as concern for preserving this historic <br /> transportation route. <br /> 2 . Projects with components which have already been funded or <br /> implemented from other sources . <br /> The City has purchased the property and has funded the <br /> planning and engineering costs to develop a trail on the <br /> railroad right-of-way. This project would not be a <br /> completing link, but a first step in a City wide <br /> pedestrian and biking trail system. <br /> • 3 . Projects which qualify in two or more categories. <br /> The proposed project falls under category numbers 1, <br /> "Provision of Facilities for Pedestrians and Bicycles" , <br /> and 7 , "Preservation of Abandoned Railway Corridors" . The <br /> Minnesota grouping would be Number 3, "Pedestrian and <br /> Bicycle Facilities and Preservation of Abandoned Railway <br /> Corridors" . <br /> 4 . Projects which have already gone through a statewide or <br /> regional project priority setting process . <br /> The City has submitted a grant application to the <br /> Minnesota Department of Trade and Economic Development for <br /> improvements to a hiking/biking trail on the abandoned <br /> railway corridor and an application for park improvements <br /> to Woodland Trails Park which borders the railway trail . <br /> The City was awarded %50,000 in grant monies to be matched <br /> with City equipment, labor, materials, and cash to build <br /> an entrance road, parking lot, bituminous trail, crushed <br /> rock trail, and street lighting. <br /> Securing grant monies for development of the pedestrian <br /> and bicycle trails on the railway corridor will expand the <br /> usage of the park trails by offering another access point <br /> 411 as well as creating an interesting side trip for hikers or <br /> bikers using the railway trail. The two projects <br /> compliment each other nicely. <br />