CC revisits NIACOG bike trail project

Counties consider expanding connections between city trails

By Kate Hayden | khayden@charlescitypress.com

Charles City is joining Floyd County in considering a master system of bike and walking trails throughout the county.

Representatives from Charles City, Colwell, Floyd, Rudd, Marble Rock and Rockford met with the Floyd County Engineer and staff from the North Iowa Area Council of Governments (NIACOG) in February to discuss ways of connecting trails already constructed, City Engineer John Fallis told the Charles City Council.

The February meeting was prompted by NIACOG as part of a statewide-effort to make a broader connection of walking trails.

“This is not just Floyd, it’s actually three counties in the NIACOG area, and the county engineers — they have been really hesitant in allowing bike trails along the right-of-way road,” Fallis said during Monday’s planning session. “Although we have this trail system, until the county sees it differently, until they want to have more trails within their right-of-way it’s going to be harder to branch out.”

The Charley Western trail system around Charles City is built on former railroad paths, Fallis said.

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