Crystal Springs to Get Half-Million-Dollar New Trail

Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-San Francisco/San Mateo) has announced that the Public Lands Highway Discretionary Program (PLHD) has awarded San Mateo County $550,000 for the Crystal Springs Regional Trail South of Highway 92 Project.

The project will construct a new 0.9-mile segment of the 17.5-mile Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail. The federal grant will cover almost half of the estimated $1.2 million cost of the trail, which is currently a service road adjacent to the Crystal Springs reservoir.

In a statement announcing the grant, Speier said, “This will be a cherished part of our regional network of trails. It will provide a safe place for people to get exercise and enjoy the beautiful scenery.”

She added, “This is a highly efficient use of federal funding. The road already exists and connects to an existing bike bridge over a major freeway.  I believe the proposed path will be instantly popular with the tens of thousands of people who already use the trail north of this point.”

Speier explained, the multiple-use trail will give pedestrians, bicyclists and equestrians a safe alternative to using a rural road east of the trail which is frequently used by fast moving vehicles.

PLHD awarded a total of almost $87 million to 75 projects out of 285 applicants. Groundbreaking for the Crystal Springs Regional Trail is expected in the late summer of 2013.

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