The City’s Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services (Parks) Department oversees trail improvement projects to include trail paving, capital corridor reconstruction, crossing improvements (at-grade and grade separated), drainage improvements, connectivity enhancements, and signage and related amenities. PPRTA provides funding for A-list Trail Programs as outlined in Table 8. These programs, like the Pikes Peak Greenway Corridor (PPG) Corridor Improvements, can consist of a single project or multiple projects. Parks looks for opportunities to leverage PPRTA funding to obtain grants to assist with overall project costs.
Table 8. Trail Projects
| Project Name | Description | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Cottonwood Trail Corridor Improvements | Trail constructed as part of the Academy at Cottonwood Creek Bridge replacement project. | Completed. |
| Midland Trail Improvements – Ridge Rd to Columbia St. | Trail constructed with El Paso County’s A-list W. Colorado Avenue Reconstruction project. | Completed. |
| Pikes Peak Greenway (PPG) Corridor Improvements: | ||
| Mesa Creek to Uintah Street | Future installation of new concrete trail south of Mesa Road (contingent of some utility actions). | Colorado Springs Utilities contractor completed burying the powerlines. Relocation of communications utilities and removals of poles complete. Trail construction contractor under contract and anticipating a fall 2024 construction, likely into early 2025. |
| Southwest Downtown Pedestrian Bridge | Completed. | |
| Uintah St. Underpass | Underpass at Uintah St. to allow PPG trail users grade separated crossing of street. | Completed. |
| Mesa Creek Crossing | Bridge over Mesa Creek | Completed installation of 800 linear feet of concrete trail and a 90-foot pedestrian bridge in March 2024 |
| Rockrimmon at I-25 to Cottonwood Creek | Leveraged PPRTA funds to reconstruction this trail segment with grant funding. | Completed. |
| Rock Island Trail Corridor Improvements | PPRTA funds used for local match to grant funds ($766k) to construct the trail from Sand Creek (near Powers Blvd) to Constitution. Construction anticipated in late 2024/spring 2025. Non-PPRTA funded construction underway from Van Buren to Templeton Gap. | Completed. |
| Shooks Runs Trail Corridor Improvements | Trail reconstruction preliminary design complete from E Las Vegas to PPG. Design pending from south of Fountain to Las Vegas St. Design for trail reconstruction started from Las Vegas St to PPG but riddled with challenges. | Waiting to acquire needed property, easements and/or permissions from pertinent landowners. It is anticipated that in 2025, sections of asphalt trail will be replaced with concrete as part of a Trail Maintenance contract (to be contracted in 2025). Sections to include: Fontanero to Corona St. (intermittent) |
| Sinton Trail Corridor Improvements | Concrete paving and associated improvements. | The TOPS-funded segment of new trail from 30th street to Arrowswest along Garden of the Gods Rd was completed in March 2023. Design of the Corridor between Garden of the Gods Road and Chestnut is anticipated completion in fall/winter 2024. Contracted work will be phased to accommodate funding and contract pricing. |
| Templeton Gap Trail Corridor Improvements | Concrete paving and associated improvements. | Trail crossing improvements at Union Blvd are complete. Bridge deck replacement near Mark Dabling intersection is complete as of July 2024 (contract approved by PPRTA). Sections of asphalt trails will be part of an anticipated city-wide Trail Maintenance contract (2025) to be improved with concrete trails. |
Figure 40. Rock Island Retaining wall and trail construction east of Cascade Underpass. Completed in Fall 2024.
Figure 41. Section of Sinton planned for reconstruction in 2025.
Figure 42. Templeton Gap Bridge Redecking. Complete Spring 2024.
Figure 43. Construction complete for Mesa Creek Confluence Pedestrian Bridge.
