The Free Press, Mankato, MN

Local News

December 26, 2009

Lack of set route handicaps trail

No consensus on route

By Mark Fischenich

MANKATO — The ambiguity about the precise location of a proposed bike trail between Mankato and St. Peter will probably keep it from receiving $400,000 in state bonding funds in 2010, said state Rep. Terry Morrow.

Six local governments support state bonding funds to design the trail, partly because the various route proposals might leave the path on either side of the Minnesota River and in parts of three different counties.

“After we put the bill in, it became clear that we don’t have a consensus on a route,” said Morrow, DFL-St. Peter, who was planning to sponsor the bonding request.

Seeking money from the state bonding bill to find that consensus isn’t a promising prospect, considering the stiff competition for limited funds. Lawmakers, because of the deep economic recession and high unemployment rate, are also likely to favor projects that put idled workers on the job — not studying options for locating a trail.

“I’d say generally bricks, mortar and maintenance are to be the key words in choosing projects this time around,” Morrow said.

Once a route is determined, trail supporters and lawmakers will work with the Department of Natural Resource to determine the best source for construction funding, he said.

There’s still hope for some financial help to cover costs of studying the route options and design issues. One option might be a grant from the proceeds of a new sales tax approved by voters last year to fund habitat, clean water, the arts, and parks and trails.

St. Peter, Mankato and North Mankato, along with the counties of Nicollet, Blue Earth and Le Sueur, supported the bonding request — partly because the various route options serve all of those jurisdictions.

Mankato, St. Peter, Blue Earth County and Nicollet County are connected by any of the routes. Nicollet County and North Mankato are better served by a route along the west bank of the Minnesota River, which would connect to the county’s Seven Mile Creek Park and to an existing North Mankato trail.

Le Sueur County and Kasota are better served by an east bank route, which could potentially connect with the Kasota Prairie nature area. Studies by university students have been done on the route options, including research and designs by a Minnesota State University class of the west bank route that estimated construction costs at $2.2 million.

The St. Peter to Mankato trail segment has one advantage in the competition for state funds: It’s part of a long-term state goal to create a trail stretching the length of the Minnesota River.

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