Attachment 6 - Union Pacific Railroad and Feeder Canal Trail Corridors
We are specifically requesting that the Union Pacific Railroad and Feeder Canal corridors remain in the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan as future regional trail alignments. These conceptual trail alignments have been included on the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan Trails Map for many years. They are identified on the Boulder County Comprehensive Plan Trails Map. At the June 28, 2001 Planning Board Meeting, Jim Crain (of the City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks Department) proposed removing these alignments from the Trails Map. The Planning Board declined to remove the alignments, noting that no clear process for making Trails Map changes existed or had been followed. We believe the Union Pacific Railroad and Feeder Canal trail corridors should remain in the Comprehensive Plan.
Support for the Union Pacific Railroad Trail Alignment
The trail alignment has been in the County Comprehensive Plans for many years. It survived the '93 and '98 reviews. It is still in the plan because it provides a major east west trail connector with an existing grade and right-of-way and with little environmental impact.
County POS staff comments from 1998 Boulder County Comprehensive Plan Trail Map Review:
"...links Boulder and Erie and provides off-road connections to other trails while avoiding the immediate banks of Boulder Creek."
"Environmental resources ... are significant resources, they do not pose great constraints since the trail grade exists and because the route is distant enough from the features.
(Complete text available at 1998 Boulder County Comprehensive Plan Trail Map Review).
Boulder City OS staff comments from July 12, 2000 OS Board of Trustees Meeting:
(on a trail connection via Boulder Creek from Walden-Sawhill Ponds to Erie County line)
"...this alignment is not recommended and staff should focus its efforts on acquiring a trail easement along the Union Pacific rail line."
(Complete text available at BATCO Trails Analysis).
Ron Stewart (Boulder County Commissioner & Director of County Parks & Open Space) & Tom van Lone (mayor of Erie):
(Daily Camera, September 9, 2000, concerning the UP Railroad Corridor)
"Both van Lone and County Commissioner Ron Stewart said that in the near future they want a trail system in place"
(Complete text available at Daily Camera Article).
Letter from Boulder County Commissioners to Chuck Saylors, Union Pacific Railroad, May 14, 2001
"...the Boulder County Commissioners request that the Union Pacific consider a non-motorized trail easement along the line from Boulder to Erie."
(Complete text available at County Comissioners Letter).
Support for the Feeder Canal Trail Alignment
The trail alignment has been in the County Comprehensive Plans for many years. It survived the '93 and '98 reviews. It is still in the plan because it provides a major north-south trail connector with an existing grade and right-of-way and with little environmental impact. During the summer of 2000 Boulder County Parks and Open Space and the City of Boulder Open Space Department agreed to jointly pursue the creation of a regional trail along the Feeder Canal (see the following quote). Boulder County Parks and Open Space has completed a resource review of the trail corridor in preparation for future public hearings and detail trail planning.
County POS staff comments from 1998 Boulder County Comprehensive Plan Trail Map Review:
"The County has attempted to get the NCWCD to agree to allow a trail on one side of the Supply Canal for several years. ...very little construction would be necessary, ... A suitable grade (a road in many cases) is already there on both sides of the canal, and it is used as a social trail. ... would not have an impact on these significant, identified environmental resources."
(Complete text available at 1998 Boulder County Comprehensive Plan Trail Map Review).
Boulder City OS staff comments from July 12, 2000 OS Board of Trustees Meeting:
"If the city (both Open Space and Public Works) comes to an agreement...,Open Space will submit a project to NCWCD to complete the section of trail from Boulder Reservoir to Niwot Road."
(Complete text available at BATCO Trails Analysis).