CITY GETS MONEY FOR TRAIL WALK

Cape Girardeau has taken advantage of a financial boost from the Missouri Department of Transportation to extend the city's pedestrian trail.

Under a provision from the federal government, the city will be reimbursed $296,150 from MoDOT after completing a biking and pedestrian path slated to run along Lexington Avenue.

The trail is the second phase of the Lexington Trace portion of the Cape LaCroix Trail, which was built in conjunction with a flood-control project in the city. The new trail will be a 4-foot wide, concrete trail. Much of the existing trail is an 8-foot wide asphaltic surface.

The city has no timeline for when the construction segment of the project will start. Engineering studies are being done now.

Most of the construction will "go on existing right of way" owned by the city but some construction easements might be needed, said Kent Bratton, city planner.

The trail is part of a the city's comprehensive plan that aims at linking all the city parks by a pedestrian trail. Cape LaCroix trail is the only project the city has done "of any consequence" in regard to building a pedestrian path, Bratton said.

And the Cape LaCroix Trail is heavily used. People are often bicycling from one park to another along the trail. Shawnee Park is connected to Arena, which is connected to Osage.

The addition of a trail on Lexington would link to Cherokee Park and other undeveloped parks land along Sprigg Street. The trail would end at Sprigg and Bertling streets near the softball fields at Southeast Missouri State University.

Steve Duke, a transportation planning coordinator for MoDOT, said the money spent on the trail so far was well spent.

Federal legislation designates 10 percent of a state's transportation agency budget be used for recreational facilities, scenic or historic sites, tourist or welcome centers and landscaping or beautification projects.

Cape Girardeau has tried to use the money to help fund its pedestrian trail projects. Another grant application will be submitted should the city decide to build a bike and walking path along the Mississippi River.

"We're still in the thinking about it stage," Bratton said of submitting a grant application. Obviously a trail along the river would also tie in to the other existing trails around the city, he said.

The trail along the Mississippi River would likely cost $1.5 million and run on the river side of the city's concrete floodwall.