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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDemontreville - trail inventory update Parks Commission Date: 10-19-09 Item: 5 ITEM: City Trail Plan A. Demontreville Trail Reconstruction Update B. Trail Inventory Update C. Review of Stonegate Trail SUBMITTED BY: Carol Kriegler ___________________________________________________________________ DEMONTREVILLE TRAIL RECONSTRUCTION UPDATE At the August meeting the Park Commission was presented with a high level summary of options, costs and impacts associated with adding a trail along Demontreville Trail. In response to this presentation, the commission passed a motion in support of improvements that would increase pedestrian and bicyclist safety along the roadway. In addition, the Commissions comments were forwarded to the City Council for their review and consideration. Since this time, the City Council has addressed the item at a workshop when the public was invited to provide input. The City Council will be updated on the project at its October 20 meeting by the city’s consulting engineers. While it appears that the issue is likely going to be addressed as a “roadway widening” project as opposed to a “trail” project, members might want to attend the October 20 for a compete project update. Staff will provide a very brief update at the Commission meeting TRAIL INVENTORY UPDATE Staff will be updated on the progress of the trail inventory which is designed to assist in the prioritization of the development of base trails and trail segments, identification of ROW issues in need of resolution, and the identification land acquisition needs. REVIEW OF STONEGATE TRAIL Residents of the Stonegate neighborhood have expressed their support for paving the existing Stonegate trail through a petition. The petition includes the names of all the residents in the neighborhood and is accompanied by photos of the trail in its current condition. The trail consists of hard packed class 5. Advocates of the trail paving point out that the current trail is only suitable for walkers, and is not suitable for bikes or strollers, forcing those users to the Stonegate neighborhood streets. A couple of years ago the City’s consulting engineers outlined the nature of the project and estimated the improvement at a cost of $129,410.00. Park Commissioner Booher has since advocated that just 2 of the 3 segments be improved as opposed to the complete trail length. Commissioner Booher advocates the paving of the 2 segments that are less complex. Over the past year there have been requests by some Park Commission members to consider this “partial” trail improvement. Information related to the StonegateTrail  The City’s engineering staff estimated the cost of improving all 3,690 feet of the Stonegate Trail at $129,410. Based on cost estimating figures for both “simple design” and “complex design’ in the City’s Trail Guide Plan, the cost for the proposed partial trail.improvement (Jasmine Ave. N. to Jasmine Ave. Pl. N, Jasmine Ave. Place N. to Julep Ave. = 1,700 lineal feet) is $51,000.00. The cost of the remaining segment (Julep Ave. N to Jewel Ave. N) is estimated at $83,580.00. Using the suggested estimating costs from the City’s Trail Guide Plan results in the total estimated cost of all 3,690 feet at $134,580, just a bit higher than the engineer’s estimate.  The City's Trail Guide Plan classifies the Stonegate Trail as a segment within a "Base Trail". Base trails are intended to provide orgin-to-destination movement. The Guide/Plan identifies 8 "Base Trails" within the city, with the Stonegate segment being a part of an east/west “Base Trail” on the south part of the City. This particular “Base Trail” is intended to provide movement from the west side of the City of the Village area. Trail segments on the east and west ends of the Stonegate trail likely won’t be completed unitl development occurs in those areas. For the time being, the Stonegate trail serves only the residents of the Stonegate neighborhood, starting at the park (west end of the neighborhood) and ending at east end of the neighborhood.  The City gave up R.O.W. a few years back that could have provided a trail connection on the west end of the Stonegate Trail. This turn-back was done in response to the neighborhoods desire to prevent thru-traffic in the neighborhood.  The R.O.W. turn-back does not prevent the Stonegate Trail from serving as a “Base Trail” as identified in the plan. The Trail Guide Plan is “conceptual” in nature and would provide for alternative connections (ie.through Stonegate Park) so that the Stonegate Trail can continue to effectively serve as a “Base Trail”. The Trail Guide plan also includes a north-south connection to Stonegate Park - - providing future access from the south by users from outside the neighborhood. In the course of any conversations about improving Stonegate Trail the Parks Commission is encouraged to consider the following: 1. The Stonegate Trail currently serves only the Stonegate neighborhood. It is currently an isolated trail with no connections to the east or west. While the Stonegate neighbors seem to overwhelming support paving the trail as it exists now, would they remain supportive if they had an understanding and familiarity with the overall Trail Guide Plan? Would they support paving the trail if it will ultimately serve as a segment within a "base trail" - resulting in thru-traffic and use by the broader community? 2. If the Stonegate neighborhood were to be opposed to the Stonegate Trail being a segment within a "base trail" (making connections to the east and west), would the Park Commission and City Council support trail improvements in light of it's limited use and access by the broader community? 3. Given the many planned trail improvements and acquisitions outlined in the City's Trail Guide Plan, how high a priority is the Stonegate Trail improvement project? What are the City's most pressing trail needs and how are they best met?