Sentinel staff report–
Although plans to begin construction were delayed last year due to COVID-19, a city spokeswoman confirmed last week that construction of a new 2.9-mile trail through Citrus Heights is anticipated to begin this Summer.
The Arcade-Cripple Creek Trail, formerly known as the Electric Greenway Trail Project, will utilize more than $6 million in grant funding and will connect multiple parks, schools and residential areas in the northeastern part of the city.
The multi-use 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 in 2020, the planning and environmental documentation phase has cost around $1 million.
To learn more about the project, see city’s Q&A online.