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New info could change path plan
By Kurt Allemeier | QCTimes Sunday, May 04, 2008 The scope of a proposed 15-mile bike path from north Bettendorf to Princeton, Iowa, may change as costs have become a concern.
State and local officials met last week to discuss how a $799,740 recreational trail grant can be used. Originally, officials from Scott County, LeClaire and Princeton thought the grant could only be used to pay for the entire project as submitted in the grant application. The project seemed doomed because of costs.
However, Iowa Department of Transportation officials said the grant could be used for construction of segments of the project, such as a path from Princeton to LeClaire.
“Everyone would like to have it done,” Scott County Administrator Ray Wierson said. “It is just whether it is feasible or not.”
Part of the problem with the path is that a detailed cost estimate hasn’t been done, so how much the construction will cost is uncertain. An early estimate was for $1.2 million. IDOT won’t pave the shoulder of U.S. 67 for a bike path — part of the proposed design — until it repaves the road, likely several years from now.
“The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the grant and how to proceed with it, and if there were opportunities to look at this in a piecemeal manner because some areas are ready to go,” said Stuart Anderson, director of systems planning for IDOT.
The new information gives the city councils for LeClaire and Princeton food for thought, said Kathy Wine, executive director of River Action Inc.
“We are going to look at those and see if that improves the chances of getting it done,” she said. “We are still trying to keep everyone on board.”
A revised plan for the bike path’s construction will be resubmitted to IDOT.
“If the DOT lets it be reconfigured or revised, we would look to see if it would make sense from an economic standpoint,” Ed Choate, LeClaire city administrator, said.
Princeton has several infrastructure projects under way, so the council will have to decide how and if it can proceed with its share of the project, said City Clerk Karen Thomson, who attended the meeting. She is preparing a report for the City Council, scheduled to meet Thursday.
A community attraction and tourism grant or other grant sources could also be mined for possible funding, officials say.
Kurt Allemeier can be contacted at (563) 383-2360 or kallemeier@qctimes.com.
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