Board OKs Loan to Begin Trails Plan
In an early step toward creating about 38 miles of hiking and cycling trails, Ventura County supervisors have agreed to make an interest-free loan to help transportation officials move forward on the project.
The county and the cities of Ventura, Santa Paula and Fillmore want to buy 37.8 miles of right of way from Southern Pacific Transportation Co.
The longest stretch, 32 miles of track from Montalvo to Piru, could be used as a bike trail and for Fillmore’s dinner trains.
The other 5.8-mile stretch, to be called the Ventura River Trail for hikers and cyclists, would connect the beachfront Omer Rains Trail to the Ojai Valley Trail.
The supervisors on Tuesday approved the $50,000 loan to the Ventura County Transportation Commission to help cover initial costs such as appraisal and legal fees.
Ventura, Santa Paula and Fillmore have agreed to front the costs for the commission which expects to be reimbursed by the federal government within three months.
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