This proposed project will construct the City/County Connector Trail along Railroad Highway, from Kanesville Boulevard to the northern Council Bluffs corporate limits. This project extends the City’s trail system to meet the County’s trail, allowing City residents access to a rural trail system and County residents a connection to 40 miles of public trails throughout Council Bluffs. Connecting the existing City trails with the County’s mainly rural system offers a unique opportunity for both urban and rural residents to experience expanded trail opportunities.

The preliminary project design calls for a concrete trail with widths that will vary between ten and eight feet. The total length of the trail is approximately 1.05 miles. The project will also include appropriate regulatory, safety and wayfinding signage.

This project is envisioned and identified in both the City of Council Bluffs Trail Plan and The Paths of Discovery! Metro Area Trail Plan. It is also programmed in other transportation plans, including MAPA’s.

Funding for this project is provided by a combination of Federal and local sources. The Metropolitan Area Planning Agency (MAPA) has programmed funding from FY 2019 – 2024, Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) in the amount of $461,000.00. Iowa DOT will administer the project and has activated the City-County Connector Trail, in their Transportation Program Management System (TPMS) for the FY 2019 STIP. IDOT has assigned project number TAP-U-1642(681)-8V-78 to the City-County Connector Trail project.

City funding, in the amount of $112,200.00 has also been programmed for this project in CIP Project PR-17- 12. Additional CIP and Federal funding may be programmed once final project costs are finalized. When completed, this trail section will become an element of the Council Bluffs trail system and the City will maintain, manage and operate it in accordance with the City’s trail system standards.