Transportation Secretary Slater Announces $4 Million in Millennium Trails Projects |
|---|
Topics: Rodney E. Slater
|
Federal Highway Administration
November 13, 1998
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, November 13, 1998
Contact: Jim Pinkelman
Telephone: 202-366-0660
FHWA 54-98
U.S. Transportation Secretary Rodney E. Slater today announced a total of nearly $4 million dollars in projects for the new national Millennium Trails Initiative. First announced by First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton on Oct. 5, the initiative will create more than 2,000 trail projects throughout the country to "honor the past and imagine the future," investing in America's legacy for the future.
"These projects are symbolic of the growing support for trails which connect America's communities with their heritage and culture," Mrs. Clinton said.
The projects are in nine states: Arizona, California, Idaho, Washington, New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, South Carolina and Wyoming. They will be funded through the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Federal Lands Highways (FLH) discretionary program, which is part of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) signed by President Clinton on June 9, 1998.
"Programs like the Millennium Trails demonstrate that transportation is about more than asphalt, concrete and steel," Secretary Slater said. "This funding provides an opportunity to enhance communities and protect the environment as we invest in enhancing the quality of life for Americans in the 21st century."
The announcement comes on the first day of the 14th Annual National Trails Symposium in Tucson, Ariz., Nov. 13-17.
"Today’s announcement represents years of hard work by volunteers and provides a great boost to the growing public-private partnership for trails," said David Burwell, president of the 80,000-member Rails-to-Trails Conservancy.
Projects awarded funding through this year's FHWA FLH program will be among the trails considered for recognition as National Millennium Trails, Millennium Legacy Trails and Community Trails 2000 as part of the national Millennium Trails Initiative.
Additional information about Millennium Trails is available at the following websites: www.dot.gov/mtp/ and www.whitehouse.gov/Initiatives/Millennium/trails.html.
The funded Millennium Trails projects, totaling $3,972,150, follow:
ARIZONA: GRAND CANYON GREENWAY: $896,800
New bicycle/pedestrian trail through Grand Canyon Village, a model transportation trail project developed by a public/private partnership and the National Park Service.
CALIFORNIA: THE PRESIDIO - BAY AREA RIDGE TRAIL $300,000
Construction of the Bay Area Ridge Trail from the Golden Gate Bridge through the Presidio, and creation of a Presidio Trails Plan, with linkages to the Juan Bautista DeAnza National Historic Trail.
IDAHO: OREGON TRAIL PARK $540,050
New Oregon Trail Historic Reserve Park in Boise, includes remnant section of original wagon trail.
WASHINGTON: MOUNTAINS TO SOUND GREENWAY $418,800
Planning and design for a critical segment in the trail along Interstate 90 between High Point and Preston which links Seattle's urban trail system with the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forests.
NEW YORK: ERIE CANAL TRAIL - FT. STANWIX $480,000
New six-mile segment of developing 325-mile cross-state trail along the Erie Canal between Oriskany and Fort Stanwix National Historic Park, a key Revolutionary War site.
MASSACHUSETTS: LOWELL NHP WALKWAY $500,000
Northern Canal and Great River Wall walkway from School Street to Father Morisette Boulevard in the Lowell, Mass., urban National Historic Park.
RHODE ISLAND: 10-MILE RIVER TRAIL $500,000
New bike path between Pawtucket and East Providence as part of Blackstone Valley National Heritage Corridor.
SOUTH CAROLINA CHEROKEE COUNTY TRAIL $76,500
New four-mile segment of Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail, from east of the Cowpens National Battlefield to Old Furnace Mill Dam in Cherokee County.
WYOMING / IDAHO TETON PASS TRAIL $260,000
Development of a plan to link from Grand Teton National Park and Jackson Hole, Wyo., across the continental divide into Idaho. (Funding for this project will be shared 50/50 by both states.)