Great Shasta Rail Trail Association

THE GREAT SHASTA RAIL TRAIL ASSOCIATION (GSRTA) ADMINISTERS THE OPERATION OF THE NON-MOTORIZED TRAIL ESTABLISHED ON THE RAIL BED OF THE MCCLOUD RIVER RAILWAY BETWEEN THE TOWNS OF BURNEY AND MCCLOUD. THE GSRTA OWN 80 MILES OF RAIL BED AND HAS OPENED 40 OF THOSE MILES FOR PUBLIC RECREATION. THOSE OPEN MILES CAN BE ACCESSED 24 HOURS A DAY, 365 DAYS A YEAR FROM A NUMBER OF IDENTIFIED TRAIL HEAD LOCATIONS. THIS GENTLY-SLOPED TRAIL IS FAMILY-FRIENDLY AND ACCESSED BY LOCALS AND OUT-OF-TOWN VISITORS. PLANS ARE IN PLACE TO OPEN THE REMAINING 40 MILES AS FUNDS BECOME AVAILABILE TO REHABILITATE BRIDGES AND TRAIL BEDS. VOLUNTEERS APPLY FOR GRANT FUNDS, TRACK INCOME AND EXPENDITURES, REPORT TO FUNDERS, AND REACH OUT TO THE PUBLIC TO INVITE TRAIL USE AND SUPPORT (DONATIONS AND VOLUNTEERING). A 2015 ENGINEER'S INSPECTION OF THE DRY CREEK BRIDGE TRAIL INFRASTRUCTURE IDENTIFIED NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE MORE-THAN-FIFTY-YEAR-OLD FACILITY. THE BRIDGE OVER DRY CREEK WAS DEEMED UNSAFE AND HAS BEEN CLOSED SINCE THE TRAIL OPENED IN 2015. A GRANT FROM THE SIERRA NEVADA CONSERVANCY (A CALIFORNIA AGENCY) IS ENABLING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE BRIDGE. DURING THE TAX YEAR CONSULTANTS (UNDER THE DIRECTION OF GSRTA VOLUNTEERS) WROTE ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTS AND DESIGNED THE CONSTRUCTION OF A REPLACEMENT BRIDGE OVER DRY CREEK. TWO GRANTS FROM THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF THE NORTHSTATE ADDED FUNDS PROJECTED TO BE NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT. A "REQUEST FOR CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTING PROPOSALS" WAS ISSUED IN OCTOBER AND A CONTRACTOR HAS BEEN SELECTED. CONSTRUCTION WORK IS PLANNED TO COMMENCE AS SOON AS THE GRADING PERMIT IS RECEIVED, SHOULD WEATHER AND GROUND CONDITIONS BE APPROPRIATE FOR THAT WORK. ONCE THE NEW BRIDGE IS INSTALLED, 23 MILES OF TRAIL WILL BE OPENED, MAKING THE TOTAL 63 MILES OF A PLANNED 90 MILES.