Category Overview
Trails grants help communities and recreation areas fund the creation and improvement of trails for walking, hiking, cycling, horseback riding, and cross-country skiing. These grants help make communities more livable, create regional trails systems, and open up beautiful outdoor spaces for people to enjoy. WWRP is the largest source of trail support in the state of Washington.
Project Highlights
This project will install an ADA accessible trail overpass for a high-use interurban trail to allow pedestrian and bike traffic to safely cross over one of the city’s most heavily traveled arterial streets. The Railroad Trail in Bellingham is a popular, heavily utilized 10′ wide trail that runs 3.5 miles from the East Side of Bellingham to downtown. The trail connects several neighborhoods with 2 elementary schools, a major shopping area, 4 parks and one natural area. Because it is an old railroad line, the grade is accessible except where it crosses Alabama Street. The Rail Company removed the old trestle prior to the City’s purchase of the abandoned line. Trail users currently use stairs and cross the 4-lane arterial mid-block below a blind hill. 75% matching funds for this project comes from a local citizen initiated levy, street funds, 2 federal transportation enhancement grants and state transportation grant funds. This project is one of the most requested improvements by citizens of Bellingham.