Bike-path proposals vie for funding

The Flathead County commissioners will hold a public hearing Monday morning to discuss funding and construction priorities for three new bike-path proposals.

All three projects applied for public funding through the Community Transportation Enhancement Program.

Flathead County receives about $245,000 per year through the state-supported program. The money is available for a variety of purposes, but it has historically been used for new bike-path construction.

The three applications include:

-A mile-long path along East Evergreen Drive from Helena Flats Road to U.S. 2.

This project would connect East Evergreen Elementary School and Evergreen Junior High School. The estimated cost is $350,000 to $400,000, including the required 13.4-percent local funding match.

Due to limited right of way along the road, the county suggested that a 6-foot sidewalk be built rather than a wider paved bike trail.

The application indicates that this would be the first of a series of bike paths connecting the Evergreen/Helena Flats area with Kalispell's system of bike paths. Future phases would include a path along West Evergreen Drive to Whitefish Stage Road, and along Helena Flats Road from East Evergreen to Reserve Drive.

-The next phase of the 26-mile-long Great Northern Historical Trail, which runs from Kalispell to Smith Lake along former railroad tracks.

The trail currently runs west almost as far as Julie's Restaurant.

The Rails to Trails organization now wants to start work on the western end of the path, paving about a two-mile section between Kila Road and Smith Lake Road.

The estimated project cost is $141,000. The CTEP money would only be used for paving; Rails to Trails would find other money to pay for benches, signs, weed control and other costs.

-A two-mile path along Willow Glen Road from Lower Valley Road north to the Montessori School.

This path would eventually connect with Kalispell's planned trail along Woodland Avenue to Woodland Park. Plans also call for a northern extension along Conrad Drive to Shady Lane.

The estimated cost of this project is $200,000.

After the hearing, the commissioners will decide if one, two or all three proposals qualify for CTEP funding. If more than one project qualifies, the commissioners will prioritize them. They might do that immediately or take the matter under advisement for a later decision.

The hearing takes place in the commissioners' hearing room, 800 S. Main in Kalispell, beginning at 10:15 a.m.