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<br />. <br /> <br />PRIORITY CRITERIA <br /> <br />1. The degree to which the proposed project fulfills the <br />intent of ISTEA. <br /> <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 /> <br />2. Projects with components which have already been funded or <br />implemented from other sources. <br /> <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 /> <br />. <br /> <br />3. <br /> <br />Projects which qualify in two or more categories. <br /> <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 /> <br />4. Projects which have already gone through a statewide or <br />regional project priority setting process. <br /> <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 /> <br />. <br /> <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 />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 />