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"The bikeways project was approved by the city council, endorsed by the Tehama County Transportation Commission and supported by many citizens in the community," City Manager Susan Price said. "This project will substantially add to the quality of life in Red Bluff."
Hayden said he wanted to thank the city council and city manager for their support, Rich Holman of Construction Solutions who prepared the grant application, Red Bluff Trails United, Tehama County Public Works, the transportation agency and other members of city staff, including the parks and recreation department and the public works department.
The U.S. Forest Service gave the city a grant to do a feasibility study, and that was a key component of efforts to put in an application, Hayden said. "It was really a team effort."
The trails system will benefit the citizens of Red Bluff now and in future generations, Hayden said. "It's the first segment of a trails system connecting residential neighborhoods with schools, parks and commercial areas and the river and creeks that extend through the city."
A portion of the funding will create a Class I trail, totally independent of the streets, Hayden said. "That means pedestrians and bikers will not have to share the same asphalt with cars and trucks."
Another portion will pay for Class II bikeways, or bike lanes, along portions of Monroe and Walnut streets in the central part of town, Hayden said. The Class I bikeway will extend from the end of Pine Street underneath the Sacramento River Bridge on Antelope Boulevard to Sycamore Street near the McGlynn Pool through Red Bluff River Park, underneath Reeds Creek Bridge at Main Street and end at the south end of Washington Street.
This trail system will provide access to five schools, downtown, Red Bluff River Park, government centers and many historical buildings. The city will put up a $43,600 cash match, bringing the total cost of the bikeways to $436,000. The cash match will be on the city council's Feb. 3 agenda, Price said.
"It looks like we will be able to use some per capita Proposition 40 funding," Hayden said. "We could probably use some transportation dollars. We're still researching which transportation dollars to use."
Trail construction could start as soon as this summer, or possibly the next, when environmental and design work are completed, Hayden said. "We have to build when the water level is low."
The bikeways fit the Regional Trails Plan and provide safe access to schools as well as the business district. The increase in bicycle commuters is expected to reduce downtown auto traffic flow. Since Red Bluff has no trails system now, few employees in the business district commute by bicycle.
The project also includes annual bicycle rodeos at Red Bluff schools to educate teachers and students on bicycle safety. Presentations will also be made to service groups.
Red Bluff has a substantial number of bicyclists. Kiwanis century rides have drawn more than 1,000 riders, the majority from Red Bluff. Red Bluff Trails United is a grassroots organization dedicated to building safe, useful bicycle commuting.
The Tehama Rural Area Express (TRAX) buses have bicycle racks. The trail system connects with downtown bus stops, encouraging mass transportation combined with bicycle commuting.
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