Commissioners vote on trail system work

A trail system idea has been floating around for several years. In 2021 the Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area approved the proposed 15-mile Cascade Locks Trail System. This led to the partnership between the port and the Northwest Trail Alliance.

Port Special Projects Coordinator Brittany Berge said the trail system provides trails for mountain bikers and would encourage more mountain bikers to use the trails.

The trail system is an economic development tool for a tourist-based area, said Brad Lorang, commission president.

“It is a good way to do it,” he said. “Its just the beginning.”

As the port and the trail alliance received approval from the national scenic area, they also received a grant from the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, Berge said. The state grant funds 6.3 miles of trail construction. Northwest Trail Alliance is constructing 3 miles of the trail as its match for the grant. The port will build the other 3.3 miles.

Berger said the port began the bid solicitation process in August and received two bids for the project: Ptarmigan Ptrails for $174,001.58 and Singletrack Trails, LLC for $217,549.20.

Oregon Parks and Recreation gave the port $130,950. Berge explained that the difference between the grant and the lowest bid is roughly $43,000.

The port has a couple of options, she said. The commission could make the award and direct staff to work with Ptarmigan Ptrails to create a work plan that can be accomplished with available grant funds and other sources that could become available.

The second option is to reduce the amount of trails built, but that would require approval from Oregon Parks and Recreation, she said.

For the port, timing is a concern. The project needs to be completed by February 2025 and work with equipment can only be done between July and February.

Commissioners opted for the first option, and awarded the contract, directing staff to work with the contractor and investigate additional funding sources.