The Bragg Creek Trails Association (BCTA) is excited to announce that we have secured funding to pave the TCT for 3.1 km in Rocky View County (RVC) from Meadow View Road going west to RR54 and south on RR54 to Iron Creek Trail. This popular section of the TCT is used by approximately 17,000 trail users per year and would create a continuous trail all the way from the West Bragg Creek Trail Network to Banded Peak School. Before we move ahead we want your feedback!
Benefits of paving the TCT are many and include; improving public access to trails, improving the safety of the trail for users, minimizing potential risk of traffic/pedestrian accidents on the busy adjacent roadways allowing for another option to road travel. The current gravel trail can pose a safety risk for narrow tired cyclists, and other users so they opt to use the paved road. Paving provides a smooth tread surface for trail users, improving the overall trail experience and increasing trail use. This is particularly beneficial for families, youth, children, differently abled and seniors. Paving the TCT trail will also reduce trail maintenance costs in areas related to weed and vegetation control, gravel tread erosion, and snow clearing.
BCTA recognizes that paving the trail will pose some challenges for our equestrian friends and have explored the cost of constructing a separate gravel trail for equestrian use adjacent to the TCT on the RR54 with special attention to the hill. What we found out was the estimated construction cost was significant. While BCTA currently does not have the necessary capital funds to construct this adjacent trail, we are open to working with local equestrians on fundraising for this project in the future to ensure the trail can be as inclusive as possible for all our users. In the meantime, BCTA plans to sand the hilly sections of the paved trail in winter when it is slippery due to ice and snow build up on the trail to protect all the users from sliding in dangerous conditions.
BCTA raised the necessary capital funding to pave this last section of the WBC TCT from our 3 levels of government (federal, provincial and municipal) and the TCT Foundation. We want to thank all the generous sponsors who helped bring this vision to life.
We would love your support. Please reach out and provide us any feedback or ask us questions between April 10th and April 30th, 2023.
