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The trail of two cities

Rick Casillas
The Commuter

Monday, June 1, 2009

Commuters between Albany and Corvallis may have a new alternative to burning fuel in the next few years, as a bike path connecting the two cities is in the works to be built.

Corvallis has already started their end of the project with plans to break ground next summer near Canterbury Circle, which lies directly adjacent to the Jackson Frazier Wetlands. Corvallis Mayor Charlie Tomlinson said in a phone interview that building the path is a “long term commitment,” made possible through funding received via the American Reinvestment Recovery Act. Some of the $1.5 billion worth of money allocated to the state for various projects will be put towards resurfacing the bike path between Corvallis and Philomath that runs near 35th street and well as constructing new paths including one that will run directly towards downtown from the NE Corvallis region.

The project is estimated to cost roughly $900 thousand with $146 thousand coming out of the pocket of the city itself. The hope is that the paths will not only reduce congestion but also incite a continuation of their construction between the two cities. “The goal is ultimately to get more cars off of the road,” says Tomlinson. “We’re hoping it will give citizens in Corvallis and Albany another alternative to commute.”

Benton County and Albany have been lobbying for funds to begin the project themselves from the Oregon Department of Transportation, applying multiple times to procure grant money from highway funds specifically used for side projects.

According to Roger Irvine, director of public works for Benton County, the idea to build a connecting path originated over half a decade ago when a commissioner on the Benton County board took an interest in the project and spoke to officials in Portland, who have a similar setup, to determine how to go about construction.

Since then, the project has been a collaboration of local government with Albany being a full partner with Benton County in applying for grants along with Corvallis’ commitment to its development. “Corvallis has been a great partner in [the project],”says Irvine. “We see these facilities as being a component of economic development.” Irvine also said the path was not being built exclusively to accommodate bikers, calling it a “multi-model path” created for skateboarders, skaters, or those lowly peons who simply possess feet and a will of iron. Besides fiscal constraints, another surmountable objective is securing permissions to build through land that connects the two cities, which has mostly been a non-issue, but Irvine says they still need approval from some railroads who own land along the proposed route. Grassroots support has been ebullient for the project, factoring into its determined push to conception. “It had the most letters of support of any project in the round it was proposed,” says Irvine. A local trek on May 3, the 10 mile stretch of road between the cities was organized by biking enthusiasts that received local coverage by televised and print news outlets. The group stated on their blog that their objective is to inform locals about the “Present status of funding, planning, etc, and to let you know what you can do that would be most helpful in persuading those with the purse strings to send some in the direction of this important project.” Another ride is tentatively scheduled in September with details on their web site at www.albanycorvallisbikepath.com

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