It only took a few run-ins with some less-than-pedestrian-friendly vehicles for jogger Bob Moeller to launch a lifelong pursuit of safe trails for fellow Chaskans.

Today, his mission is focused on creating a trail connection between Chaska and Victoria, and linking both cities to the regional trail system. “The mental will to do it is there,” said Moeller.

A regional trail from downtown Chaska to downtown Victoria, along the western borders of both cities, has long been in the county’s plans, but funding it has been tied to future development. Since the housing market took a tumble, development has slowed dramatically for both communities, pushing off the trail construction.

In early 2009, the Victoria-Chaska Local Trail Connector Task Force, comprised of local government officials and interested citizens, was formed to explore the possibility of connecting the dots between existing trails in both Chaska and Victoria.

“We thought, ‘Gee, wouldn’t it be nice to connect the Minnesota River Bluffs [LRT Regional] trail with the Lake Minnetonka [LRT Regional] trail in the interim?’” said Moeller. “What can we do to connect something now so we don’t have to wait 20 years?”

Support

Today, the task force has the support of the cities of Chaska, Victoria and Chanhassen as well as Carver County and the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. Now, it’s a question of funding.

“We’ve received a lot of support publically in terms of concept,” said Moeller.

“I am very excited about the possible trail connection between Victoria and Chaska,” wrote fellow task force member and Victoria Mayor Mary Hershberger Thun in an e-mail. “The proposed trail connection would offer residents from both cities the opportunity to take advantage of recreational opportunities and businesses in both cities and provide the added benefit of connecting to regional trails, which will also provide residents from both cities safe access to the greater metropolitan area,” she stated.

Links

In Chaska, the connection would link the Minnesota River Bluffs LRT Regional Trail, which currently dead-ends at County Road 61 west of the Stoughton Boulevard intersection, to the city trail running along Engler Boulevard (see map below).

“I’m estimating, but it’s probably only 500 feet long,” said Chaska City Administrator Matt Podhradsky.

Constructing that segment has long been one of Chaska’s biggest trail priorities, although funding it has presented an issue. Podhradsky said that a recent transportation grant totaling around $400,000, should help Chaska and Carver County begin negotiations to acquire the land necessary to construct the trail segment and connect with the regional trail system.

“We’re pretty proud of our inter-city trail system,” said Podhradsky. “Now we want to focus on the inter-regional system.”

That small segment alone would allow someone in Chaska the opportunity to run, bike or walk all the way to Minneapolis via Eden Prairie, Minnetonka and Hopkins.

In Victoria there is considerably more work to be done. The Chaska trail abruptly ends at the Chaska-Victoria border, near 86th Street and Bavaria Road. It leaves a roughly two-mile swath of land between there and Rolling Acres Road in Victoria, where the local trail would connect to the Lake Minnetonka LRT Regional Trail and provide access via trails to Minneapolis through Excelsior, Minnetonka and Hopkins.

The task force estimated that it would cost around $440,000 to make that connection. They are hopeful that transportation enhancement funds will be granted to Carver County help pay for the project. Moeller said they should hear back about their application for those funds in the next couple of months.

Boosting downtown

In addition to giving locals the opportunity to head into the city, the trails would give city dwellers the opportunity to visit Chaska and Victoria. The task force is betting that once these connections are made, outdoor enthusiasts won’t be able to stay away.

Moeller said he could easily envision someone leaving Minneapolis on Friday night to bike to Chaska, stay overnight at the Peacock Inn downtown, heading up to Victoria Saturday and camping at Carver Park Reserve that night before heading back to Minneapolis on Sunday.

“I think it would be a really enjoyable trip,” he said.

Both Chaska and Victoria are hoping that having those connections in place would also drive traffic to their respective downtowns. Moeller said the task force is would like to work with the SouthWest Metro Chamber of Commerce to encourage business owners to market themselves along the trails.

He holds up the town of Lanesboro in southeastern Minnesota as an example of what Chaska and Victoria could become once the trail connections are complete.

“Lanesboro is thriving based on access to the regional trail system and the river,” he said, noting that Lanesboro takes in $1.5 million annually from its tourist industry.

Carver County Commissioner and task force member Randy Maluchnik said that he would love to see these trail connections be made in Chaska and Victoria. “There are two reasons I do trails,” he said. “I have a big interest in childhood and adult obesity, and it’s an economic development tool.”

Moeller believes that these trails could even boost the local housing market. “Trails are a sought-after amenity in communities,” he said.

Neighborly

Such trail connections should also benefit the bond between neighbors. “This is a pretty nice project to bring cities together,” said Moeller.

“Victoria and Chaska have joint boundaries in many areas,” wrote Thun. “I think the trail connection is one more way that the two cities can positively work together. I’ve been impressed by both Chaska and Victoria’s representation and the commitment of the County to work on this long overdue trail connection.”

Depending on funding, Moeller estimated that trail connections could be a reality by as soon as 2013. “From a demand and interest standpoint, this all sticks together,” he said.

Maluchnik said he would love the opportunity to utilize a trail from Chaska to Victoria, if for no other reason than to bike to Floyd’s bar. The members of the Victoria-Chaska Local Trail Connector Task Force are hedging their bets that Maluchnik is not the only one.

-Mollee Francisco, staff writer