North Idaho Centennial Trail Foundation kicks off summer with bonanza

The North Idaho Centennial Trail. Whether or not you’ve walked or biked on a section, surely you’ve driven past a part of its 24-mile length that spans from Higgens Point on the east end of Lake Coeur d’Alene, through the cities of Coeur d’Alene and Post Falls, before connecting with the Spokane River Centennial Trail on the Washington side of the border.

Greta Gissel, executive director of the North Idaho Centennial Trail Foundation, covered many of the issues the foundation faces currently in regard to the present and future needs of the trail at the recent “It’s My Trail Bonanza” held at Java on Sherman.

One of the first items she spoke about is the foundation’s efforts to repaint the bridge that carries the trail over the Spokane River between Idaho and Washington.

Gissel talked shortly about the new foundation slogan, saying that the ‘It’s My Trail’ message is meant to bring awareness of the need for residents and tourists alike to take ownership of the trail and its needs.

The trail is supported by membership, donations, grants and fundraising events such as the Coeur d’Alene Marathon (held on May 28 this year), Ales for the Trail (held in August at McEuen Park) and the Coeur d’Fondo (held in late September).

Aside from the above events, the foundation relies on individual memberships to help with maintenance of the trail. During the meeting, Gissel went over the current projects for the trail, which include the painting of the bridge over the Spokane River, which has a projected budget of $80,000.

“We try to keep up with the seal coating and we have that bridge painting set to take place — something that hasn’t been done in probably 30 years,” John Bruning, NICTF board president, said after the meeting.

The foundation schedules seal coating of the trail periodically, and expects to conduct the next round in 2017, with a cost expected to be near $180,000.

Two projects could affect the path of the current trail. The foundation plans to work with the Idaho Transportation Department to reconstruct the existing trail along U.S. 95. No designs have been finalized, but several routes are under consideration.

Also, the foundation is set to consider relocating the trail around the Highway 41/Seltice Way interchange in Post Falls. Currently, trail users heading westbound have to traverse both Seltice Way and Highway 41 (which turns into Ross Point Road south of Seltice Way), which leaves them traveling southbound on Ross Point Road with no bike lane.

One relocation design getting serious consideration involves re-rerouting the trail straight west from the interchange, and reconnecting with the current trail near the Post Falls Post Office near the corner of Seltice Way and Greensferry Road.

“We are working with Post Falls city engineers,” Bruning said. “And we have some good ideas and we hope to move past the planning stages on that soon.”

Gissel also spoke on issues regarding roads and trails connecting to the Centennial Trail.

Bruning, a former Coeur d’Alene city council member, added that he and the board have built up a good working relationship with the cities of Post Falls and Coeur d’Alene, as well as the county administration entities. “That is important, since those entities do a big portion of the work on and around the trail.”

Gissel also mentioned that any work on the U.S. 95 bridge from Northwest Boulevard over the Spokane River would use federal dollars (for expansion of lanes, or bridge replacement itself). As such, the use of federal dollars in that instance would ensure that bike lanes would be part of the redesign.

She added that there is a plan to expand the popular Prairie Trail, which currently runs from the Centennial Trail (just north of Riverstone), past the Kroc Center and through the west side of Coeur d’Alene to Huetter Road.

The former railbed continues on the west side of Huetter Road and head northwest toward the Rathdrum Prairie. Future construction could add miles to the trail, depending on several factors and the cooperation of several local government entities.

Finally, Gissel mentioned the foundation is working with cda2030.org, which is an organization interested in determining what the citizens of Coeur d’Alene “develop a vision for a bright future for a greater city” less than 15 years into the future.

CDA 2030 is an independent, non-partisan, non-aligned effort, and Gissel said the foundation is looking forward to working with the organization for the betterment of the city and its inhabitants.

When asked what he is most proud of in his work with the North Idaho Centennial Trail Foundation, Bruning had some concise answers.

“The main thing has been keeping the trail in good condition,” he said. “That has taken years to accomplish, and there is a lot that goes into that.”

Bruning has been instrumental in recruiting diversity to the foundation’s board, adding former engineers from Post Falls and Coeur d’Alene. He also wanted to point out the board is putting a “high priority” on rerouting the trail in the vicinity of the Highway 41/Seltice Way intersection.

Currently, trail users heading westbound must cross Seltice Way going south, then turn west to cross Highway 41 and turn south of Ross Point Road, which is very narrow for over a block before widening out.

For more information about how you can contribute to or get involved with the trail, visit www.itsmytrail.org. Donations are tax deductible and memberships include an eNewsletter, decal and recognition on the NICTF website.