Cross City Trail - Raleigh Street to Fremont Street
Project Overview:
The Duluth Cross City Trail will be a 10.3-mile multi-purpose, non-motorized, accessible, paved trail system for users of all ages and abilities. The trail will provide a connection from the Lakewalk in downtown Duluth to the Willard Munger State Trail and Waabizheshikana: The Marten Trail in western Duluth, offering safe access to distinctive natural areas in western Duluth, while presenting exceptional views of the St. Louis River Estuary, and filling a gap in a significant state trail route from central Minnesota to the North Shore of Lake Superior.
In 2024, the City of Duluth constructed the section of Cross City Trail between Irving Park and 59th Avenue West, and constructed a separated shared use path on the north side of Raleigh Street. The remaining gap to realize the vision for the Cross City Trail is between Raleigh Street and the Kingsbury Creek parking lot on Grand Avenue (across from the Lake Superior Zoo).
This project will include design and construction for the section between Raleigh Street and Freemont Street. Westward from Raleigh Street, the project will pass behind Kwik Trip, located at 6516 Grand Avenue, and include a spur connection to Grand Avenue at the Redruth Street intersection. The Cross City Trail will continue west from Kwik Trip to cross S 67th Ave W and continue to Fremont Street. A project map is provided in the Important Documents section below.
Funding Source:
The City of Duluth has been awarded four grants to support this project. The Raleigh Street to Grand Avenue portion of the project is supported by a $150,000 Federal Recreational Trail Program Grant (0021-22-2C) and a $300,000 Regional Trail Program Grant (R004-23-2C) with both grants administered through the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
The western continuation between Kwik Trip and S 67th Ave W will be supported by a $300,000 Regional Trail Program Grant (R003-26-2B), contingent on final processing of the agreement. The portion of trail between Redruth Street and Fremont Street has also been approved to receive up to $700,000 in federal funds through the Transportation Alternatives (TA) Program.
This project is collaboratively managed by the departments of Public Works and Property, Parks, and Libraries.
Agency Leadership: Cari Pedersen, Director of Public Works and Utilities, cpedersen@duluthmn.gov and Erik Birkeland, Director of Property, Parks, and Libraries, ebirkeland@duluthmn.gov
Grant Manager for 0021-22-2C, R004-23-2C, and R003-26-2B: Allison Brooks, Project Coordinator, abrooks@duluthmn.gov
Grant Manager for TA: James Gittemeier, Senior Transportation Planner, jgittemeier@duluthmn.gov
Timeline:
Fall 2026: Final Design
Spring 2026: Work through environmental review for portion between Kwik Trip and Fremont Street
Summer 2027: Construct portion between Raleigh Street and Grand Ave
2028: Anticipating construction for portion between Kwik Trip and Fremont Street
Important Documents:
2026 Cross City Trail Project Map (link opens in a new window)
Documents linked below have been archived and will not be updated. All links open in a new window.
Project Partners:
Friends of West Duluth Parks and Trails
