The NEWS index
Rio Linda Bike Trail Extension: M Street
to Elverta Road
The Sacramento County Department of Transportation (SACDOT) hosted a groundbreaking event to celebrate construction start up for a project that will turn a historic, unused rail line into a beautiful bikeway for Rio Linda residents and users of the regional bikeway system. The new bikeway project will extend the Sacramento Northern Bikeway from M Street in Rio Linda to Elverta Road in Elverta.
The extended bikeway is being built in a right-of-way area that was once part of the Sacramento Northern Railroad. Information about the groundbreaking event is as follows: Thursday, Aug. 25, 11:00 A.M. at Depot/Visitor Center, 6730 Front Street, Rio Linda.
The Speakers were Supervisor Roger Dickinson (District 1), Terry Schutten, County Executive, Tom Zlotkowski, Director, Department of Transportation, Judy Garcia, Rio Linda Chamber of Commerce president, and Bob Bastian, County Parks Commission & Rio Linda Historical Society.
According to Tom Zlotkowski, Director of the Department of Transportation, "This great new bikeway project will provide Rio Linda with many benefits: more recreational facilities for cyclists, runners and walkers; better continuity and connections to locations adjacent to the bikeway; and, safer routes to schools".
"In
addition, this project builds on the extensive bikeway system that
already exists in Sacramento. We are also revisiting some historical
roots in transportation by turning a once vital, now unused, rail line
into a rails-to-trails type facility. SACDOT is pleased to move forward
with this bikeway project for the Rio Linda community".
The project will construct 1.8 miles of Class I bikeway and landscaping enhancements within the former Sacramento Northern Railroad (SNRR) right-of-way in Rio Linda. The existing Sacramento Northern Bikeway will be extended from M Street to Elverta Road. Project enhancements will include: Improved access to bicycling and walking facilities.
Paved and marked pathways from the bikeway to numerous locations in the community including the Elverta Joint Union Elementary school. A new parking lot at the Elverta Road end of the project for bike path users. This includes ADA accessible parking stalls. Open-air kiosks will be constructed along the bikeway to provide shaded areas where bikeway users can sit to rest or enjoy the scenery.
Three new drinking fountains: one at each kiosk and one at the school crossing. Wrought iron gateways will be installed along the trail to identify communities the bike trail is passing through.
New landscaping will be installed in many areas of the bikeway extension. This includes the planting of about 750 trees, including 480 oaks.
This bikeway extension project will cost $2.4 million to build and will be covered by federal and local transportation funding sources. Teichert Construction has been contracted by the County to construct the project which is scheduled to be completed by Winter 2005.
The extension of the Sacramento Northern Bikeway to Elverta Road is consistent with the adopted Sacramento City & County Bikeway Master Plan which calls for on-street and off-street bikeway improvements throughout Sacramento County. This bikeway extension provides a regional link between the Rio Linda and Elverta communities and the American River Parkway.
Once the bikeway extension is completed, it will be much easier for residents to bicycle to downtown Sacramento (approximately 10 miles), The project also contributes to improved air quality by encouraging cycling and walking as an alternative to motor vehicle use.
The Sacramento County Department of Transportation (SACDOT) hosted a groundbreaking event to celebrate construction start up for a project that will turn a historic, unused rail line into a beautiful bikeway for Rio Linda residents and users of the regional bikeway system. The new bikeway project will extend the Sacramento Northern Bikeway from M Street in Rio Linda to Elverta Road in Elverta.
The extended bikeway is being built in a right-of-way area that was once part of the Sacramento Northern Railroad. Information about the groundbreaking event is as follows: Thursday, Aug. 25, 11:00 A.M. at Depot/Visitor Center, 6730 Front Street, Rio Linda.
The Speakers were Supervisor Roger Dickinson (District 1), Terry Schutten, County Executive, Tom Zlotkowski, Director, Department of Transportation, Judy Garcia, Rio Linda Chamber of Commerce president, and Bob Bastian, County Parks Commission & Rio Linda Historical Society.
According to Tom Zlotkowski, Director of the Department of Transportation, "This great new bikeway project will provide Rio Linda with many benefits: more recreational facilities for cyclists, runners and walkers; better continuity and connections to locations adjacent to the bikeway; and, safer routes to schools".
"In
addition, this project builds on the extensive bikeway system that
already exists in Sacramento. We are also revisiting some historical
roots in transportation by turning a once vital, now unused, rail line
into a rails-to-trails type facility. SACDOT is pleased to move forward
with this bikeway project for the Rio Linda community".The project will construct 1.8 miles of Class I bikeway and landscaping enhancements within the former Sacramento Northern Railroad (SNRR) right-of-way in Rio Linda. The existing Sacramento Northern Bikeway will be extended from M Street to Elverta Road. Project enhancements will include: Improved access to bicycling and walking facilities.
Paved and marked pathways from the bikeway to numerous locations in the community including the Elverta Joint Union Elementary school. A new parking lot at the Elverta Road end of the project for bike path users. This includes ADA accessible parking stalls. Open-air kiosks will be constructed along the bikeway to provide shaded areas where bikeway users can sit to rest or enjoy the scenery.
Three new drinking fountains: one at each kiosk and one at the school crossing. Wrought iron gateways will be installed along the trail to identify communities the bike trail is passing through.
New landscaping will be installed in many areas of the bikeway extension. This includes the planting of about 750 trees, including 480 oaks.
This bikeway extension project will cost $2.4 million to build and will be covered by federal and local transportation funding sources. Teichert Construction has been contracted by the County to construct the project which is scheduled to be completed by Winter 2005.
The extension of the Sacramento Northern Bikeway to Elverta Road is consistent with the adopted Sacramento City & County Bikeway Master Plan which calls for on-street and off-street bikeway improvements throughout Sacramento County. This bikeway extension provides a regional link between the Rio Linda and Elverta communities and the American River Parkway.
Once the bikeway extension is completed, it will be much easier for residents to bicycle to downtown Sacramento (approximately 10 miles), The project also contributes to improved air quality by encouraging cycling and walking as an alternative to motor vehicle use.