John Bruning, chairman of the North Idaho Centennial Trail Foundation board of directors, asked state transportation officials Thursday for construction funding to rebuild and expand a bike and pedestrian trail along U.S. 95. Bruning appeared before the Idaho Transportation Department board members, saying the existing 9 miles of paved trail running along the east side of the highway between Appleway Avenue and Garwood Road is in poor condition. The ITD board was in Coeur d'Alene, at the district office, for a regular meeting. Bruning said the aging trail needs to be rebuilt. He estimated it would cost $2 million to rebuild that portion and add 9 additional miles, reaching just north of the Kootenai County line. Evenually, the foundation would like to see a trail connecting Coeur d'Alene and Sandpoint. Bruning said the trail would act as a collector, providing "connectivity" for the individual bike paths in the neighborhoods and subdivisions along the U.S. 95 corridor in Kootenai County/David Cole, Coeur d'Alene Press. More here.

Question: Would you like to see $2M budgeted in state money to upgrade and expand the H95 trail from Appleway to beyond the Kootenai County line (and eventually to Sandpoint)?