Construction to begin this year on new 2.9-mile trail in Citrus Heights

Sentinel staff report–
The City of Citrus Heights is moving forward with plans for constructing a new multi-use trail that will connect multiple parks, schools and residential areas in the northeastern part of the city.

The Arcade-Cripple Creek Trail, formerly known as the Electric Greenway Trail Project, will utilize more than $6 million in grant funding, with plans to begin construction later this year.

Although initially planning for a spring or summer construction start date, City Spokeswoman Nichole Baxter said Wednesday that the project is expected to begin construction “at the end of 2021,” with the majority of the work happening next spring.

A contract has yet to be awarded for the project and Baxter said the contractor chosen for the job will be in charge of determining what section of the trail to start with.

The 2.9-mile trail will travel from Wachtel Way through a residential neighborhood, continue over to Woodside K-8, and then pass through several parks before concluding in the Sunrise MarketPlace shopping area.

The project also includes a new signalized crossing on Fair Oaks Boulevard, pathway lighting, sidewalk and curb installation on a portion of Oak Avenue, drainage and landscaping improvements, as well as traffic signal modifications.

According to a city flier, funding for the roughly $7 million project largely comes from a $6.2 million Active Transportation Program grant, a state program which receives $100 million annually from the SB1 gas tax. ATP grants are restricted and must go towards projects that result in more “active” transportation modes like walking and biking. The city says none of the funding will come from its general fund.

Citrus Heights was awarded the grant in 2017 to pay for right-of-way, design and construction phases of the trail project. As reported last year, the planning and environmental documentation phase has cost around $1 million.

To learn more about the project, see city’s Q&A online.