CP Rail Regional Trail Master Plan: Crystal, New Hope and Golden Valley Segment

CP Rail Regional Trail: Golden Valley/New Hope/Crystal
Luce Line Regional Trail to Crystal Lake Regional Trail Segment

Public Feedback: Phase 1 is Complete

Initial feedback opportunities to help determine the preferred route of the future CP Rail Regional Trail through Golden Valley, New Hope and Crystal and between the Luce Line and Crystal Lake Regional Trails are now complete.

Three routes, displayed on the adjacent map, were available for consideration. Community members were welcomed to shared their feedback and preferred route through a wide variety of ways including community events, virtual and in-person meetings, email, an interactive map and more.

Staff are now reviewing the public feedback and completing preliminary route feasibility assessment work.

A staff recommendation for review and consideration by the respective city commissions and councils is anticipated in October/November of 2022. An opportunity for additional public feedback on the recommended route, preliminary route assessment work and high-level concept renderings is anticipated in early 2022.

Project Background

The CP Rail Regional Trail is envisioned as a north-south off-road multi-use, non-motorized recreational corridor spanning from the Crystal Lake Regional Trail in Crystal at Becker Park to the Minnesota Valley State Trail in Bloomington. The regional trail is being planned in segments to allow for thoughtful community engagement and detailed route analysis.

This master planning work is critical, as the original vision for the regional trail was to utilize the CP Rail corridor; however, this is not currently feasible and alternative routes are needed in order to provide a safe, comfortable and continuous north-south regional trail for people walking and biking in the near future. The master plan efforts will identify and study alternative routes to determine which option(s) best balances feasibility, cost, private property impacts, and safety.

Master planning for Segment A between the Minnesota Valley State Trail in Bloomington and Nine Mile Creek Regional Trail in Edina was completed in 2019 and Three Rivers is actively seeking funding opportunities to complete the associated missing trail segments and improve wayfinding along Segment A.