The city of Meridian is just steps away from completing a half-mile multi-use trail along the Union Pacific Railroad.
It’s the latest piece in an effort by the city to connect Meridian Road to Linder Road with a walking and biking trail.
The trail would be built between West 8th Street and Northwest 3rd Street along the track and next to the Rutledge siding, a canal that runs next to the railroad.
The city bought land near the road in 2018, intending to exchange it for another parcel from Friends of Children and Families, which operates a Head Start program near the planned road. But grading and bond challenges forced the city to wait until now to continue building the road, said Kim Warren, Meridian’s director of parks maintenance.
Warren said construction costs have increased in the six years since 2018. That’s why she was in front of the City Council on Tuesday to ask for more funding.
The project, called Local Rail with Trail Pathway, was funded in 2019 with federal funds routed through the Community Planning Association of Southwest Idaho, but with rising costs, the city must ask the agency for more money.
Compass initially awarded $540,000. Meridian says it needs an additional $500,000.
“I personally feel this is still a great project,” said Council member Liz Strader. “It made good sense years ago when we started the process, and I think it still makes sense. I’m a little worried about the cost. The magnitude of the cost is explosive.”
The City Council authorized Mayor Robert Simison to sign a letter asking Compass
for additional funds. Compass also requires a 7.4% match in funding from the city.
With the total project growing to just over $1 million, the city will have to contribute $76,000.
Meridian is competing for COMPASS funding with other projects, but Caleb Hood, deputy director of planning, told the board that projects that are already designed and expected to be built soon have a higher chance of being selected.
The move to secure funding for the road reflects the results of a 2021 survey of Meridian residents who said their No. 1 request to improve Meridian’s recreation opportunities was to increase access to trails and paths.
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