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prepared by: Alta Planning + Design 711 SE Grand Avenue Portland, Oregon 97214 CITY of KALISPELL TRAIL & COMPLETE STREETS CONCEPT DESIGN REPORT 2019 ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 MANY THANKS to the 1,000+ community members who took time to participate in the community visioning, and whose participation directly shaped the conceptual design that will continue to move forward into detailed design, engineering, and construction. We also want to recognize the determination and effort contributed by the following people: MAYOR Mark Johnson CITY COUNCIL Sandy Carlson Kari Gabriel Chad Graham Phil Guiffrida Tim Kluesner Rod Kuntz Wayne Saverud Kyle Waterman CITY STAFF Doug Russell, City Manager Tom Jentz, Director, Planning Katharine King, Assistant Director, Community and Economic Development Jarod Nygren, Senior Planner, Planning Krista Lammers, Coordinator, Community and Economic Development ADDITIONAL SUPPORT Valarie Kniss, NW Regional Manager, Federal Rail Administration CONSULTANT TEAM Mary Stewart, PLA, Alta Planning + Design Joe Gilpin, Alta Planning + Design Olivia Burry-Trice, Alta Planning + Design Mark Rohweder, Engineer, KLJ Courtenay Sprunger, Owner, Big Sky Public Relations TRAIL CREW ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS Pam Carbonari (Chair) Connie Behe Aimee Brunckhorst Mark Crowley Chad Fincher Mark Flatau James Freyholtz George Giavasis David Girardot Hillary Hanson Keith Haskins David Koel Patrick Maddison Diane Medler Jerry Meerkatz Jeri Moon Kim Morisaki Bob Nystuen David Peterson Eric Peterson Lisa Sheppard A.J. Spear Jacob Thomas Joe Unterreiner Tagen Vine Erica Wirtala ---PAGE BREAK--- TRAIL & COMPLETE STREETS CONCEPT DESIGN REPORT 3 1 I 4 Vision Limitations on 7 2 I THE 8 Core Area Railroad Right-of-Way and 10 3 I PREFERRED 14 15 Bird’s-Eye View and 16 Trail 4 I STREET 36 Street Crossing Preferred Alternative Complete Street 5 I PUBLIC 50 The Process & 51 Outreach 52 Summary – Common 54 Potential Activity Area Concepts from Community 58 6 I 60 Public Deep Dive A-2 ---PAGE BREAK--- 4 VISION ---PAGE BREAK--- TRAIL & COMPLETE STREETS CONCEPT DESIGN REPORT 5 VISION STATEMENT The vision of Kalispell’s revitalized Core Area is to transform from an industrially-oriented center into a vibrant, pedestrian- friendly, mixed-use neighborhood, focusing upon retail, residential, entertainment, and cultural amenities designed to proudly and consistently complement the existing historic Kalispell downtown area. “To accomplish great things, we must not only act but also dream. Not only plan but also believe.” – Anatole France, French critic, writer ---PAGE BREAK--- 6 INTRODUCTION The Kalispell Trail and Complete Street project is a component of a $21M Project. A US Department of Transportation TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) grant of $10M was awarded in 2015. The first phase of the project involved construction of the Glacier Rail Park, which will be ready for operations in 2019. This (second) phase of the project seeks to “transform the underutilized heart of Kalispell into a thriving city center for all citizens.” This objective will be accomplished through removal of the existing railroad infrastructure, replacing it with nearly two miles of new concrete accessible urban trail linking parks, businesses, residents and the downtown. Additionally, one new north-south “Complete Street” will be constructed. Further opportunities involve future private redevelopment of 44 acres of dispersed vacant or blighted property, including brownfields. In 2019, the City of Kalispell will acquire a minimum of 100 feet of Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) railroad right-of-way (ROW) west of a theoretical 8th Ave WN extension and east of 3rd Ave EN, stretching to the north side of US Highway 2. The center portion of the project is composed of narrower, varying ROW and other easements retained by Burlington Northern. For design purposes, the trail corridor has been categorized into three districts: Grainery District, Downtown District, and Park District. The Grainery District is characterized by open, undeveloped rail yards and underutilized or abandoned industrial uses along its frontage with W Center St. ---PAGE BREAK--- 7 Main St. (US 93) at Depot Park is a central trail crossing that provides the opportunity to increase pedestrian safety and experience. LIMITATIONS ON DESIGN This TIGER-funded project has direct control over the design of a trail and other associated amenities which may be placed within the acquired BNSF right-of-way and easements. This project does not directly control any redevelopment of adjacent property, though it provides a vision for and seeks partnerships to guide future high- quality mixed-use residential and commercial construction. These types of developments will leverage the utility of the trail for residents and customers while improving the experience of the trail for the general public. TRAIL & COMPLETE STREETS CONCEPT DESIGN REPORT ---PAGE BREAK--- 8 THE CORRIDOR ---PAGE BREAK--- TRAIL & COMPLETE STREETS CONCEPT DESIGN REPORT 9 CORE AREA PLAN 2012 Core Area Plan Boundary ---PAGE BREAK--- SCALE 100 PLAN SCALE FEET 100 0 50 200 1 SCALE 100 PLAN SCALE FEET 100 0 50 200 1 10 The Grainery District begins at Meridian Road and extends to 5th Ave WN, and is characterized by open, undeveloped rail yard and underutilized or abandoned industrial uses along its frontage with W Center St. The western half of this corridor is contained within a 100-foot-wide railroad right-of-way, while the east half (east of an 8th Ave WN extension) is private property with narrower easements covering three main branches of the railroad traversing it. The City of Kalispell expects future development in the area to be a mix of multi-family residential and commercial businesses. This western side of the city is currently underserved by parks, recreational facilities, and open spaces and may have opportunities to leverage these components. GRAINERY DISTRICT RAILROAD RIGHT-OF-WAY AND EASEMENTS ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 SCALE 100 PLAN SCALE FEET 100 0 50 200 2 TRAIL & COMPLETE STREETS CONCEPT DESIGN REPORT 11 The Downtown District encapsulates the commercial and entertainment hub of the trail through connections to the Kalispell Center Mall, Depot Park, and, by extension, Historic Downtown Kalispell. This district spans from 5th Ave WN to 3rd Ave EN, and while this section is mostly built out, ample opportunities for redevelopment exist with the key focal point being a substantial expansion of the Kalispell Center Mall across the trail to the north. A visionary approach to this property will be a major factor in the success of the trail. Well-designed linkages and frontages to the trail with public space, connections to restaurants, and outdoor dining are all focal points to this vision. DOWNTOWN DISTRICT ---PAGE BREAK--- SCALE 100 PLAN SCALE FEET 100 0 50 200 3 3 12 The Park District lies entirely within a 100 foot right-of-way from 3rd Ave EN to the project terminus on the north side of Highway 2. This district borders Woodland Park and is characterized by a more natural setting with hills and views to the east and south. Substantial redevelopment potential exists along this portion of the corridor primarily to the north and also at key points in private ownership to the south. PARK DISTRICT ---PAGE BREAK--- TRAIL & COMPLETE STREETS CONCEPT DESIGN REPORT 13 This page intentionally blank ---PAGE BREAK--- 14 PREFERRED DESIGN ---PAGE BREAK--- TRAIL & COMPLETE STREETS CONCEPT DESIGN REPORT 15 INTRODUCTION Throughout the summer and fall of 2018, the City continually met with stakeholders and the public to present trail alignment and design concepts, eventually reaching over 1,000 people. The project team also presented revised versions of a preferred design to the Trail Crew project advisory committee six times throughout the summer and fall. The plans and renderings found in this chapter were distilled from a combination of feedback from stakeholders, the community at large, and the Trail Crew. This chapter begins with plan views of the preferred design, beginning with the west end of the trail at Meridian Street, moving eastward to the trail terminus north of US Highway 2, and noted as part of the respective districts they are located within. Plan views follow, in the same west-to-east manner, with bird’s eye renderings and sketches to lend depth and perspective. Trail amenities have consistently been noted by the community as priorities for the full build-out of the project and those categories or types are pictured at the end of this section. Existing railroad through Depot Park, looking west. ---PAGE BREAK--- 16 P.44 See Page 17 Plan view from Meridian Street to 8th Avenue. ---PAGE BREAK--- TRAIL & COMPLETE STREETS CONCEPT DESIGN REPORT 17 See Page 16 See Page 18 Plan view from 8th Avenue to 5th Avenue WN. P.42 ---PAGE BREAK--- 18 See Page 17 See Page 19 P.42 Plan view from 5th Avenue WN to The Mall. P.42 ---PAGE BREAK--- TRAIL & COMPLETE STREETS CONCEPT DESIGN REPORT 19 See Page 20 P.45 See Page 18 Plan view from The Mall to 1st Avenue EN. P.41 P.45 ---PAGE BREAK--- CHS MDT 20 See Page 19 See Page 21 Plan view from 3rd Avenue EN to Woodland Park. P.46 P.47 ---PAGE BREAK--- SECTION LINE SEE PAGE 30 TRAIL & COMPLETE STREETS CONCEPT DESIGN REPORT 21 See Page 20 See Page 22 Plan view from 7th Avenue EN to Woodland Water Park. ---PAGE BREAK--- 22 See Page 21 Plan view from Woodland Park to Flathead Drive. ---PAGE BREAK--- Great Northern Historic Rail to Trail Major Trail Gateway Median Refuge Island Meridian St Appleway Dr r St BNSF Railway Interpretative Sign: Timber Industry TRAIL & COMPLETE STREETS CONCEPT DESIGN REPORT 23 Connection to existing Great Northern Historic Rail-to-Trail at Meridian Street (looking west across Meridian Street). ---PAGE BREAK--- POTENTIAL NEW DEVELOPMENT KALISPELL CENTER MALL LANDSCAPE PLAZA PLAZA: SEE EDGE TREATMENTS N MAIN ST W MONTANA ST IDAHO ST KALISPELL CENTER MALL DEPOT PARK CROSSING PAVERS TRAIL CROSSING PUBLIC ART & INTERPRETIVE SIGN: RAILROAD HISTORY PUBLIC ART INTERPRETIVE SIGN: RAILROAD HISTORY FUTURE CONNECTION TO DOWNTOWN TRAIL EDGE TREATMENTS PRIMARY ELEMENTS 24 Looking east over the Kalispell Center Mall and potential redevelopment area. ---PAGE BREAK--- LARGE RETAIL RETAIL RETAIL RETAIL JC PENNY RETAIL RETAIL BREWERY RETAIL EXISTING BREW PUB CHERRY TREE ALLEE SEATING PARKING BANK MOVIE WALL SPLASH PAD / FLEX SPACE PARKING CLIMBING WALL TRAIL TO DEPOT PARK TRAIL & COMPLETE STREETS CONCEPT DESIGN REPORT 25 Concept of future development on north side of the Kalispell Mall that integrates the trail into the retail and dining attractions at a more pedestrian scale. Features: • Large scale retail limited in size, multi-story buildings • Pedestrian friendly • Community meeting space • Development oriented toward trail and Main Street ---PAGE BREAK--- 26 Depot Park and the crossing at Main St, looking west. ---PAGE BREAK--- E CENTER ST POTENTIAL LIBRARY SITE WOODLAND PARK CONNECTOR TRAIL MDT CONNECTION TO WOODLAND AVE POTENTIAL NEW DEVELOPMENT INTERPRETIVE SIGN: CONRAD FAMILY CONNECTOR TRAIL SPLASH PAD EXERCISE AREA POTENTIAL REDEVELOPMENT / TRAIL ACCESS WITH PARKING PARKING LOT RESTROOM PICNIC AREA CONNECTOR TRAIL TRAIN CAR CHS RYGG FORD GRAFFITI WALL KALISPELL WRECKING POTENTIAL NEW DEVELOPMENT TRAIL & COMPLETE STREETS CONCEPT DESIGN REPORT 27 4th Ave EN looking east. ---PAGE BREAK--- 28 Concept of winter use for splash pad as ice rink. ---PAGE BREAK--- Potential Trail Access with Parking Potential Development Site 5th Ave EN CHS Property MDT Property E Montana St Patio Amphitheater Main Trail Future Connection Woodland Ave E Center St Potential Library Site Splash Pad / Ice Rink Community Garden Restroom Picnic Area Orchard Locomotive TRAIL & COMPLETE STREETS CONCEPT DESIGN REPORT 29 Detail vision of the Flathead Electric Coop, CHS, and MDT properties that present opportunity for redevelopment and improved trail amenities. ---PAGE BREAK--- 120’ RIGHT-OF-WAY EXISTING PROPOSED LOOKING EAST 12’ CONCRETE TRAIL POTENTIAL HOUSING / MIXED COMMERCIAL SEATING STEPS GRADED BERM WOODLAND PARK HOUSING / MIX COMMERCIAL TERTIARY ELEMENTS 30 Section between Rygg Ford and Woodland Park, see page 21. ---PAGE BREAK--- RAIL BRIDGE ANDERSON MASONRY US HWY 2 MDT TRAILHEAD PLAZA RESTROOM TRAIL GATEWAY SIGN PARKING LOT TAMARACK GROVE TRAIL WELCOME SIGN PEDESTRIAN RAIL BRIDGE FLATHEAD DR TRAIL & COMPLETE STREETS CONCEPT DESIGN REPORT 31 Concept of trailhead on Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) property at eastern terminus of project. ---PAGE BREAK--- 32 TRAIL GATEWAYS MINOR TRAIL CROSSING MAJOR TRAIL GATEWAY Reclaimed metal rail with inlaid wayfinding Street crossing signage Reclaimed metal rail Metal beam with cut through lettering Simple pedestrian lighting Simple pedestrian lighting ---PAGE BREAK--- TRASH RECEPTACLE TRAIL LIGHTING PARK LIGHTING SECONDARY ELEMENTS PRIMARY ELEMENTS WAYFINDING PLAZA SEATING INTERPRETIVE SIGN TRAIL SIGN TRAIL TRAIL CROSSING SEATING PINK FLAIR CHERRY PRESERVED RAIL STORMWATER PLANTING NATIVE PLANTINGS LOCAL MATERIALS BIKE RACK FIX IT STATION PERMANENT RESTROOM DRINKING FOUNTAIN TREES CHOSEN FROM THE CITY OF KALISPELL APPROVED BOULEVARD TREE LIST TRAIL GATEWAY TRAIL & COMPLETE STREETS CONCEPT DESIGN REPORT 33 ---PAGE BREAK--- PLAYGROUND PUMP TRACK EXTREME FITNESS COURSE DECORATIVE NIGHT LIGHTING PROJECTED LIGHT SIBERIAN LARCH CITY SPRITE ZELKOVA SUMMER SPRITE LINDEN FARMERS MARKET RECYCLED RAIL ART LOCOMOTIVE CHERRY GROVE SPLASH PAD SENIOR PARK ART WALK PLAYFUL LIGHTING CLIMBING WALL PUBLIC ART PICNIC AREA PARKING SECONDARY ELEMENTS TERTIARY ELEMENTS TREES CHOSEN FROM THE CITY OF KALISPELL APPROVED BOULEVARD TREE LIST 34 ---PAGE BREAK--- TRAIL & COMPLETE STREETS CONCEPT DESIGN REPORT 35 This page intentionally blank ---PAGE BREAK--- 36 STREET CROSSINGS ---PAGE BREAK--- TRAIL & COMPLETE STREETS CONCEPT DESIGN REPORT 37 STREET CROSSINGS The trail will cross six existing and one future roadway at-grade. This amounts to a minimum of seven at-grade crossings over a 1.6-mile alignment. To maximize usage of the trail by people of all ages and abilities, these crossings must be intuitive, comfortable, and prioritize the safety of trail users. Design details will vary by the width and traffic speed/volume of each crossing. Table 1 details the Average Annual Daily Traffic (AADT) for each existing cross-street at count sites nearest the trail alignment, and north of Center St. CROSS-STREET TRAFFIC CHARACTERISTICS STREET LANE CONFIGURATION AADT (2011-2017 AVG)* Meridian Road 2-lane 10,000 5th Ave WN 2-lane 7,500 Main St 5-lane 23,000 1st Ave EN 3-lane 4,500 3rd Ave EN 2-lane 5,500 4th Ave EN 2-lane 5,500 * Sites nearest trail crossing, north of Center Street - data taken from: Existing Meridian Street crossing, looking west. Existing 5th Ave WN crossing, looking west. ---PAGE BREAK--- 38 CROSSING TREATMENTS There are a wide variety of commonly accepted treatments for improving safety and comfort at mid-block crossings. Treatment objectives are summarized below. SHORTENING CROSSING DISTANCE The width of a trail crossing dictates how long a distance a pedestrian or bicyclist has to cross, which is also related to the amount of time exposed to traffic. Shorter crossing distances result in greater comfort and improved intersection efficiency as pedestrians clear the travel lanes more quickly. All crossings have the ability to add a center refuge island, with the US 93 crossing allowing the combination of a center refuge and a curb extension (bulbout) on the west side of the intersection. Refuge Islands also have the benefit of allowing trail users to cross one direction of traffic at a time, making decisions to cross easier and allowing trail users to exploit more gaps in traffic. HEIGHTENING AWARENESS Trail crossings should be visible to motorists so that they are clearly identified. Signage, crossing markings, and trail branding all play a role in increasing visibility. There is the potential to utilize some of the existing overhead railroad signals as installations on the minor street crossings to enhance trail visibility and branding. ASSIGNING PRIORITY Montana drivers are required to yield to pedestrians and trail users at designated crossings. Reinforcing this obligation so that it is obvious improves yielding rates and improves crosswalk safety and comfort. Heightening awareness of the pedestrian crossing with a center refuge island and utilizing existing railroad signals for signage. MINOR CROSSINGS Similar conditions exist for trail crossings at Meridian Road, 5th Ave WN, 1St Ave EN, 3rd Ave EN, and 4th Ave EN. All existing street crossings (with the exception of Main St) have width that is surplus to the needs of two travel lanes. After analysis it was determined that center refuge islands applied consistently at each crossing would produce a common set of expectations at all trail crossings. Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons are recommended to provide additional visibility to trail users at these crossings and will be mounted on one or two recycled rail signal masts (see below graphic). Activation of the beacons (active – via push button, or passive – via microwave detector) will be under consideration during design phase. Crossings will be level for trail users with some appearing to be raised to approaching vehicles. Raised crossings will be snowplow compatible. ---PAGE BREAK--- TRAIL & COMPLETE STREETS CONCEPT DESIGN REPORT 39 RECTANGULAR RAPID FLASHING BEACON (RRFB) provide a user-activated reminder of motorist obligation to yield through a unique flashing amber light designed specifically to raise motorist awareness. These could be button activated or passively activated when trail users approach the crossing. PEDESTRIAN HYBRID BEACON If the do not yield acceptable motorist compliance, the installations could be designed to be upgradeable to Pedestrian Hybrid Beacons (PHBs, also known as HAWKs). Hybrid beacons provide a pedestrian signal that is protected by a red signal indication. The main difference between a PHB and a full signal is that the PHB is dark when not activated and it uses a triangular signal head consisting of two red and one yellow lenses. Top left: example of an RRFB for a bike route at an unsignalized intersection. These are user-actuated, either passively through detection or push-button, alerting drivers to yield to bicyclists. Bottom left: example of a hybrid beacon used to enhance pedestrian and bicycle safety at major street crossings or mid-block crossings, such as trail crossings. Bottom right: detail of a hybrid beacon. ENHANCED CROSSING TREATMENTS There are two commonly used devices that are deployed in trail crossing contexts that improve safety for users. ---PAGE BREAK--- 40 MAIN STREET (US 93) CROSSING Main Street is a National Highway maintained by the Montana Department of Transportation. It currently has five lanes at the trail crossing and is the busiest roadway the trail crosses by a significant margin. This crossing is also at the intersection of the trail with its most logical connection to Downtown Kalispell. The Deep Dive considered this crossing location and showed examples of overpasses and various at-grade crossings. Public support exists for a trail overpass; however, TIGER grant funding for the trail would be completely expended just on this overpass if pursued. Additionally, substantial ramping would cut the trail off from connections to Depot Park and serve as a barrier to a connected Mall site on the west side. The City of Kalispell has been studying a potential five- to three-lane conversion of Main Street in recent years to expand sidewalks and provide other amenities to downtown. This proposal is not universally supported and the trail concept design assumes that the highway will remain at a five-lane configuration. Treatment of the trail crossing at Main Street will be a significant component of the overall success of the project. If safe and comfortable, the crossing has the potential to be a focal point joining the east and west portions of the trail. If accommodated poorly, it could limit overall use of the trail and hamper its utility as a transportation corridor. There is substantial design guidance and research on providing safe crossings of multi-lane roadways. To appeal to all ages and abilities, treatments which reliably stop through-traffic and limit or prohibit conflicting turning traffic will be the most successful. According to National Cooperative Highway Research Program 17-56, Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons or hybrid beacons would be appropriate treatments. would particularly benefit from the presence of a median refuge island. Existing Main St (US 93) crossing, looking southwest. ---PAGE BREAK--- TRAIL & COMPLETE STREETS CONCEPT DESIGN REPORT 41 OPERATIONAL CONSIDERATIONS are “on-demand” devices that activate immediately when the button is pushed. Additionally, FHWA requirements state that the activation interval must reset if the button is pressed again before the interval completes. Therefore, in busier pedestrian crossings, frequent activations can result in the beacons being active almost continuously, resulting in significant vehicle delay and frustration to drivers. Alternatively, hybrid beacons function more similarly to a traditional signal and can be coordinated with adjacent signals. Trail users then tend to collect at the sides and cross at once in a concentrated fashion. When no trail users are present, the beacon is inactive and “dark.” DESIGN ELEMENTS The proposed crossing at Main Street includes the following design elements: • Curb extension on west side of street to shorten pedestrian crossing. • Maintains two travel lanes in the north and southbound directions. • Provides optimal crossing alignment by extending Depot Park north and converting Market Place into a one-way eastbound street. • Provides 10-12 foot wide raised center median refuge for trail users as well as positive guidance for channelizing left turns into Market Place and US Bank. • Increases parking capacity including for larger vehicles on the north side of Depot Park for Chamber of Commerce and event parking. Main Street (US 93) crossing design includes a median refuge island. ---PAGE BREAK--- TRAIL CONCRETE TRAIL CROSSING L E G E N D LANDSCAPE LOT / ROW LINE PAVERS/BRICK TREE SIDEWALK CONCRETE 42 5TH AVE WN CROSSING The crossing of 5th Ave WN has a variety of considerations. This location is between the Kalispell Center Mall and potential redevelopment areas to the west. The existing rail line goes through the City Service Valcon Fuel Site. There are also rail spurs that intersect 5th Ave WN just to the south of Valcon and at the CHS grain elevator site. The CHS alignment was eliminated as it involved a longer out of direction travel for trail users. Two alternatives are presented to accommodate the Pros: • Avoids short-term conflict with City Service Valcon Fuel Site Cons: • Less-desirable long-term alignment for vehicle circulation. Left turn lanes aren't usable for Mall entrance or Valcon entrance due to median refuge area • Substantial changes to 5th Ave WN, increased trail cost / expense trail crossing. Pros and cons are listed for the preferred and alternative alignment. The following design elements are part of both crossing alternatives: • Median refuge island • Level surface crossing for trail users • Relocated railroad signal mast for trail crossing signage and RRFB devices. PREFERRED ALIGNMENT ---PAGE BREAK--- TRAIL CONCRETE TRAIL CROSSING L E G E N D LANDSCAPE LOT / ROW LINE PAVERS/BRICK TREE SIDEWALK CONCRETE TRAIL & COMPLETE STREETS CONCEPT DESIGN REPORT 43 Pros: • Follows rail line – no issues meeting rail-banking rules • Direct path for trail users, no out of direction travel • True mid-block crossing location, no interaction with Mall entrance • Long term, may be most interesting alignment if it can be incorporated into redevelopment • Minimal changes to 5th Ave WN – cost-effective to project Cons: • Short term: less than ideal alignment through Valcon site with trail users traveling through parking lot ALTERNATIVE ALIGNMENT ---PAGE BREAK--- 44 1 MERIDIAN STREET CROSSING The crossing of Meridian Street occurs at the extreme west end of the project and connects the project with the existing Great Northern Historic Rail to Trail. The following design elements are part of the proposed crossing: • Southern crossing alignment within the railroad right-of-way to maximize northbound left-turning vehicle storage onto Appleway Drive • Median refuge island • Level surface crossing for trail users • Widened sidewalk on west side of street for connection to existing trail. • Relocated railroad signal mast for trail crossing signage and RRFB devices ---PAGE BREAK--- TRAIL & COMPLETE STREETS CONCEPT DESIGN REPORT 45 1ST AVE EN CROSSING The crossing of 1st Ave EN occurs just east of the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce and Depot Park. The street is currently configured as a three-lane street making the provision of a median refuge straight forward. The following design elements are part of the proposed crossing: • Removal of northbound left turn lane as Market Place will be converted to eastbound only. • 13-foot-wide median refuge island • Level surface crossing for trail users • Utilization of existing overhead railroad signal masts for trail crossing signage and RRFB devices ---PAGE BREAK--- 46 3RD AVE EN CROSSING The crossing of 3rd Ave EN occurs at the boundaries of the Downtown District and the Park District. The street is currently configured as a wide two-lane street with parking prohibited. Each travel lane is currently nearly 25 feet wide, making the provision of a median refuge straightforward. The following design elements are part of the proposed crossing: • Seven-foot lane shift taper to create space for the refuge island • 13-foot-wide median refuge island • Level surface crossing for trail users • Relocated railroad signal mast for trail crossing signage and RRFB devices ---PAGE BREAK--- TRAIL & COMPLETE STREETS CONCEPT DESIGN REPORT 47 4TH AVE EN CROSSING The crossing of 4th Ave EN is the farthest east at-grade crossing along the project extent. The street is currently configured as a wide two-lane street with intermittent curb and gutter and no sidewalks. Each travel lane is currently nearly 16 feet wide, making the provision of a median refuge straightforward. The following design elements are part of the proposed crossing: • Five-foot lane shift taper to create space for the refuge island • Eight-foot-wide median refuge island • Level surface crossing for trail users • Potential for relocated railroad signal mast for trail crossing signage and RRFB devices (four total masts available) ---PAGE BREAK--- 48 COMPLETE STREET ALTERNATIVES Prior to the Deep Dive, three potential complete street alternatives were identified by the Environmental Assessment (EA). These linkages were 8th Ave WN, 6th Ave WN and Woodland Ave. A portion of the Deep Dive public involvement was oriented towards gathering feedback on these three alignments. Two workshop boards were created for this purpose: the first was a context map detailing the locations of the potential alignments, the land uses and some of the local opportunities, and the second asked participants to use dot stickers to rate each option by a variety of criteria. From this exercise it was clear that the 6th Ave WN alignment had little support, with participants reasoning that it was too close to 5th Ave WN to be of significant value. 8th Ave WN and Woodland Ave both received substantial support with 8th Ave WN leading in its perceived value to improve economic activity in the core. Woodland Ave was noted as a greater potential value to non-motorized connectivity, and access to destinations. Woodland Ave was thought to have a greater negative impact to existing neighborhoods while 8th Ave WN was also perceived to have greater impacts to existing private property. Both alignments scored highly with regard to overall north-south connectivity and the value to the transportation network as a whole. In general, 8th Ave WN was noted to have greater positive pressure on redevelopment and economic benefit to the core area, while Woodland Ave was noted to have a connection that benefited those wishing to bypass the core. With regard to non-motorized connections, many members of the public asked if Woodland Ave could at least provide a trail connection, if not a full complete street. From a cost perspective, 8th Ave WN crosses at least two private parcels and would conflict with one or two existing structures (depending on the alignment chosen). This option would require property acquisition, which will impart significant cost. Woodland Ave is a more straightforward connection, as no property acquisition is required, but is longer and would likely be more expensive to construct (700 to 1,200 linear feet of new roadway for Woodland Ave, versus 500 feet for 8th Ave WN). The City of Kalispell will continue to pursue the possibility of connecting 8th Ave WN. At the time of publication of this document, the City is in discussions with landowners regarding the acquisition of property to construct 8th Ave WN. However, due to the potential that 8th Ave WN may not be a viable option, the City of Kalispell intends to create, open to public comment, and submit a supplement to the completed EA. The supplemental EA would evaluate the potential of connecting 1st Ave WN, 2nd Ave WN, 3rd Ave WN, or 4th Ave WN. ---PAGE BREAK--- 2017 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT INITIAL COMPLETE STREET ALTERNATIVES ALIGNMENT 8th Ave WN ALIGNMENT 6th Ave WN ALIGNMENT Woodland Ave PROS • Improves connectivity north to south • Reduces traffic at 5th Ave and Meridian Rd crossings • Provides 5-foot sidewalks and possibly a bike lane CONS • Property relocations and/or acquisitions required where new road would be constructed • Three non-historic buildings, a closed shop, and two warehouses would be demolished PROS • Improves connectivity north to south • Reduces traffic at 5th Ave and Meridian Rd crossings • Provides 5-foot sidewalks and possibly a bike lane CONS • Property relocations and/or acquisitions required where new road would be constructed • A non-historic warehouse would be demolished, and two non- historic warehouses may be demolished PROS • Reduces traffic on the existing 4th Ave E crossing • Provides 5-foot sidewalks and possibly a bike lane CONS • Property relocations and/or acquisitions required where new road would be constructed, including an eletrical facility • A non-historic shed and electrical infrastructure, including aboveground eletrical lines, would be moved or demolished HIGHWAY 2 4TH ST W 1ST ST W E OREGON ST MAIN ST/HWY 93 W CENTER ST CONRAD DR 4TH ST E 3RD ST E 2ND ST E 1ST ST E 1ST AVE EN 3RD AVE EN 5TH AVE WN 4TH AVE EN W MONTANA ST E WASHINGTON ST N MERIDIAN RD E CENTER ST 6TH AVE WN 1ST AVE WN 1ST AVE E 5TH AVE E 4TH AVE E 2ND AVE WN 3RD AVE WN 2ND AVE E 5TH AVE EN 1ST AVE W 5TH AVE W 6TH AVE W 7TH AVE W 8TH AVE W 9TH AVE W 2ND AVE W 3RD AVE W 4TH AVE W 2ND AVE EN HIGHWAY 93 ALTERNATE W CALIFORNIA ST 10TH AVE W W WASHINGTON ST E CALIFORNIA ST 7TH AVE EN APPLEWAY DR FLATHEAD DR S MERIDIAN RD WOODLAND AVE 6TH AVE EN WOODLAND PARK DR 4TH AVE WN 2ND ST W 3RD ST W TAHOE DR COLLEGE AVE E MONTANA ST LENWOOD LN HUSKY ST CAROLINE RD 8TH AVE EN GLENWOOD DR SHADY GLEN DR ZIMMERMAN RD W OREGON ST 6TH AVE E E RAILROAD ST 9TH AVE EN 7TH AVE WN W RAILROAD ST 2ND ST W 3RD ST W 7TH AVE WN Peterson Elementary Meridian Park Depot Park Woodland Park Lawrence Park Conrad Memorial Cemetary Heritage Park Kalispell Public Schools Woodland Montessori Trinity Lutheran School Montana Academy Potential Trailhead Potential Trailhead Potential Library SunRift Brewery Kalispell Center Mall Alignment 1 Alignment 2 Alignment 3 TRAIL & COMPLETE STREETS CONCEPT DESIGN REPORT 49 Three potential complete street alternatives identified prior to the Deep Dive were 8th Ave WN, 6th Ave WN, and Woodland Ave/ 7th Ave EN. Additional complete street alternatives of 4th, 3rd, 2nd and 1st Avenues WN shown in red. ---PAGE BREAK--- 50 PUBLIC PROCESS ---PAGE BREAK--- TRAIL & COMPLETE STREETS CONCEPT DESIGN REPORT 51 Members of the public participate in railcar tours of the project corridor on June 7, 2018. THE PROCESS & OBJECTIVES The project design team organized a “Deep Dive”, an intensive week-long immersion with planners and participating members of the public. It was held in the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce building from June 4 - 8, 2018. Between Monday, June 4 and Friday, June 8, the City of Kalispell hosted a week-long charrette at a variety of venues and times. The charrette was an immense success and over six hundred participants offered their input over the course of the week. This high level of engagement was due to strong community interest and excellent project communication. In addition, the charrette was thoroughly covered by local media outlets both prior to and during the week’s activities, was supported by direct stakeholder outreach conducted by the City of Kalispell’s staff, and was marketed aggressively on social media platforms. The goals of the Deep Dive were to: 1. Facilitate a comprehensive understanding of the opportunities and constraints of the trail corridor. 2. Review and explain the complete streets opportunities. 3. Solicit trail and complete street design preferences from the public. ---PAGE BREAK--- 52 The Trail Crew and the project team kick off the project on June 4, 2018. KEY STAKEHOLDERS Critical to the Deep Dive process was a need to connect with landowners along the corridor, developers, and partnering agencies. On Monday, several key stakeholders along with a project team member rode a high rail car on the existing rail to solicit comments about the project. During the Deep Dive week, more than 20 individual meetings were held. These meetings fostered an improved understanding of the physical characteristics, constraints, vision, and plans underway which impact the trail corridor. Multiple opportunities for partnerships and project coordination were identified. It was clear that the redevelopment potential within the core area of Kalispell is vast, and many property owners were eager to better understand the ultimate vision and design of the trail. This understanding would provide some certainty for the first time since the planning for the trail initiated nearly a decade ago. These meetings illuminated many of the significant adjacent opportunity areas along the trail, but also identified potential issues for trail development, as the timing for many projects is unclear as to when and how they would impact or incorporate a built trail. OUTREACH EVENTS OPEN DESIGN TIME Monday through Thursday (June 4-7), the project design team worked in the chamber conference room at the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce. The public was welcome to drop in and provide feedback on both the project design boards and on the corridor map. During the week, a changeable message sign was placed on Main Street (US 93) just outside the Chamber of Commerce to welcome the public to the design process. Throughout the week, there were always members of the design team available to orient public drop-ins and walk them through the various design preference boards. Public outreach during NW Montana Fair 2018. ---PAGE BREAK--- TRAIL & COMPLETE STREETS CONCEPT DESIGN REPORT 53 EVENING EVENTS Throughout the week, the project team set up evening open houses to better enable participation by members of the public who were unable to attend daytime events. Events were held at Kalispell Brewing Company, SunRift Beer Co., Kalispell ImagineIf Library, and the Kalispell Center Mall. Open houses lasted from 5 - 7 pm and were generally well attended. These events also intercepted members of the public who were not aware of the project. RAILCAR TOURS The vision of removing the railroad tracks and constructing a trail in their place has been around since the 1980s. While many project stakeholders are familiar with the project and general area of the proposed trail, few have traversed the corridor from start to finish, from the perspective of the rail. To provide stakeholders and members of the public with a unique view of the corridor, the project team partnered with the North American Railcar Operators Association to provide hourly tours of the corridor from 9 am - 3 pm on Thursday, June 7. Participants started at Depot Park, and exited the railcars at Woodland Park as well as at the north and west ends of the project to consider trail-related opportunities. A short survey on their experiences was conducted following their return to the depot. Attendees at the final public meeting during the Deep Dive week review the final design ideas and provide feedback. ---PAGE BREAK--- The Grainery District, looking west. 54 COMMON THEMES During the charrette, multiple interactive opportunities were offered. Activities included full tours of the future trail location, design studio time for owners of land along the trail, and informational sessions with the City’s trail design consultant. The charrette even extended to local hotspots such as the library, the mall, and two downtown breweries. Participants were welcomed to ask questions and provide feedback via surveys, in-person discussion, and interactive displays throughout the week. The following themes resulted from processing of hundreds of comments received from the public and a variety of project stakeholders. ---PAGE BREAK--- 23% Woodland Park 19% Crossings 14% Mall Area 13% Grainery Area 10% Westside 6% Business Areas 2% Infrastructure 1% Parking 12% Depot Area TRAIL & COMPLETE STREETS CONCEPT DESIGN REPORT 55 CONNECTIVITY As the new main corridor for bike and pedestrian traffic, residents view the Kalispell Trail as more than a central route through the Downtown District— they feel it is the key connector to facilities for people walking and biking throughout the greater Kalispell area. As such, it is crucial to find ways to connect this new trail thoughtfully with other existing systems (beyond the obvious Rails to Trails system on the west end of the Grainery District). Feedback shows an emphasis on tying to north-south trails that lead to Kalispell Regional Medical Center and the Hutton Ranch area, as well as points such as 7th Avenue EN, which could easily be tied to the trail near Woodland Park. Naturally, the largest connection challenge for the Kalispell Trail is the crossing over Main Street (US 93). Respondents strongly favored a raised crossing bridge) versus an at-grade crossing. However, this feedback was given without a full understanding of the cost or logistics to properly develop this structure. On the topic of access, some comment was provided regarding accessibility and ADA compliance, which would strongly direct the size of a raised crossing. What is the most important section for the trail to get it right? Conceptual ideas presented during the Deep Dive. ---PAGE BREAK--- 56 TRAIL AMBIANCE AND AMENITIES The overarching theme of feedback offered by the Kalispell community is that they wish to see the trail embody a tasteful blend of the past, present, and future. Numerous comments encouraged repurposing portions of the rail line materials into modern, decorative art to be placed along the trail or incorporating portions of the tracks into the new trail. Kalispell appears accepting of contemporary concepts but many providing input shied strongly away from bold colors or lighting, siting them as “garish” or even “not Montanan.” Instead, residents requested more discreet uses of colors and lighting, those that are playful but that will simultaneously blend well with the natural beauty that defines the Flathead Valley. Small touches of color, solar lighting at the base of the trail, or gently glowing swings were considered far preferable to brighter displays such as large lit rings or rainbow walls. Aside from decorative lighting, feedback indicates that adequate lighting placed strategically throughout the trail is central to creating a safe and usable trail. While Kalispell is eager to embrace the future, residents also wish to see the city’s history clearly represented throughout the trail, but they want it feathered into displays and art – they don’t want the trail to “feel old.” Feedback also indicated a desire for elements of whimsy and play. Splash parks, pump parks, and recreation space for people of all ages was noted repeatedly; several notes requested a dog park. However, while respondents shared that they wanted room for play, it was important to note these spaces should be well defined and were not to be a dominant theme along the trail. Green space was a strong theme repeated throughout the week and is clearly important to making this trail feel representative of the community. Residents want open areas with natural grasses, greenery, and trees. In addition to green space, open areas to gather are paramount to the community. Repeated requests for an amphitheater and space for public events such as the farmers market or a concert were prevalent. Design sketches presented during the Deep Dive. ---PAGE BREAK--- TRAIL & COMPLETE STREETS CONCEPT DESIGN REPORT 57 CONCEPT DESIGNS The last day of the week-long charrette included presenting the final designs developed throughout the week. The 10 design boards and one overview map showing the entire alignment were pinned up in the Mall for review and comment by the public. Alta presented a summary of the week to the attendees, followed by open discussion and comment, providing the public time to interact closely with the designs. Three concepts were developed: Contemporary Trail, Historic Trail, and Natural Trail. Each of these concepts focused on highlighting different and unique characteristics of the trail, reflected in the choice of materials, amenities, programming, and landscape plantings. Hand and digital renderings were used to describe the design at important locations along the trail, along with photographs to tell a full story. These boards can be found on the following pages. Open house during the Deep Dive. ---PAGE BREAK--- Ͳ ͷ ͳͲ ͳͷ ʹͲ ʹͷ ͵Ͳ ͵ͷ ͶͲ Ͷͷ 18% Community Events, Festivals, and Concerts 17% Restaurants 14% Recreational Bicycling 14% Running, Walking, or Fitness 10% Family Outings 7% Walk Dog 5% Play Areas for Kids 4% Commute to Work 1% Skateboard 10% Shopping 58 Community Gardens Farmers Market Rest Areas Water Fountains Restrooms Exercise Stations Play Structures Natural Play Areas Rock Climbing Amphitheater Running Trail (natural surface) Outdoor Retail Space food truck) Water Features Splash Park Storm Water Treatment Public Art Parking/Trailheads Flexible Event Space Cherry Orchard Restoration Meadow Viewpoints Plaza Outdoor Classroom Wayfinding Interpretive/Historical Signage Bike Parking Restrooms Picnic Areas Outdoor Yoga Water Fountains Movie Wall Art Walk Dog Park Ice Skating Area Pump Track/Dirt Jumps Skate Zone POTENTIAL ACTIVITY AREA CONCEPTS FROM COMMUNITY FEEDBACK SOME OF THE RESULTS FROM PUBLIC SURVEY TAKEN DURING THE DEEP DIVE WEEK. What are the three most important amenities to provide along the trail? How do you envision yourself using the trail? ---PAGE BREAK--- TRAIL & COMPLETE STREETS CONCEPT DESIGN REPORT 59 Depot Park and the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce are centrally located within the City of Kalispell and adjacent to the proposed trail. A key feature of the concept design is the incorporation of destinations like these. PLANS After the Deep Dive, the City continued to meet with stakeholders and presented concepts at 19 community events (Thursday!Fest, Picnic in the Park, Northwest Montana Fair & Rodeo, the October 16th Kalispell Chamber of Commerce Luncheon, and open house public events) throughout the summer and fall. The project team also presented revised versions of a preferred design to the Trail Crew project advisory committee six times throughout the summer and fall. The plans and renderings on the following pages were distilled from a combination of feedback from stakeholders, the community at large, and the Trail Crew. ---PAGE BREAK--- 60 APPENDICES ---PAGE BREAK--- TRAIL & COMPLETE STREETS CONCEPT DESIGN REPORT A-1 June 4, 2018 5 to 7 PM - Evening Roundtable Kalispell Brewery 412 S Main St 7PM - City Council Presentation Council Chambers 201 1st Ave East June 5, 2018 9 AM to 4 PM - Open Studio Drop-In 5 to 7 PM - Evening Roundtable Sunrift Brewery 55 1st Ave W N June 6, 2018 9 AM - 4 PM Open Studio Drop-In 5 to 7 PM - Evening Roundtable Kalispell Library 247 1st Ave Eh June 7, 2018 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM - Public Railcar Tours Tour the trail corridor on historic “Speeder” railcars. 9 AM - 4 PM Open Studio Drop-In 5 to 7 PM - Evening Roundtable Kalispell Center Mall 20 N Main St June 8, 2018 1 to 2:30 PM - Design Alternatives Presentation Hear and see the vision for the Kalispell Trail Kalispell Chamber of Commerce 15 Depot Park Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday The public was invited to “open design time” each day where they could interact with the design team and participate in recording their design preferences for the corridor. The project team met individually with key project stakeholders such as adjacent property owners, developers, and other agency partners to understand their preferences, concerns, and vision for the trail. Each evening a public event was held in Kalispell to allow the public the opportunity to comment on the project outside normal business hours. For an unique perspective of the proposed trail, railcar tours of the corridor were conducted on historic rail motorcars with the public. This concept design report leans heavily on the site-specific knowledge and the understanding of the preferences and interests of the community that were gained during the Deep Dive. PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT OVERVIEW Approximately 600 members of the public signed in at various events during the Deep Dive. Many more people attended and provided comments at these events, but did not register their names. TRAIL CREW The “Trail Crew” is a 26-member citizen advisory group formed to provide guidance to the project team throughout the design of the trail. The Deep Dive was initiated and concluded with a Trail Crew meeting. Members of the Trail Crew were the first group to both provide information on design preferences and to react to the concepts presented on Friday, June 8th. Four subsequent meetings were held to refine the design plan. ---PAGE BREAK--- A-2 Historic artifacts Inlaid railroad ties Local Kalispell lights Native plantings Reused timber bench Concrete trail TYPICAL TRAIL SECTIONS HISTORIC TRAIL CONTEMPORARY TRAIL NATURAL TRAIL Corten steel lit bollards Stone bench Landscape berm Wildflower plantings Stormwater plantings String lights Inlaid lighting / glow-in-the-dark shoulder Textured concrete CONTEMPORARY TRAIL CONCEPT ELEMENTS • FOCUS ON INTERACTIVE FEATURES AS PLACEMAKING • ART AND PLAY BASED DESIGN • MULTI-FUNCTIONAL ACTIVITY SPACES • ABSTRACTION CORTEN STEEL FORMED CONCRETE INTERACTIVE ART SEATING TRAIL LIGHTING DYNAMIC LIGHTING DEEP DIVE BOARDS ---PAGE BREAK--- TRAIL & COMPLETE STREETS CONCEPT DESIGN REPORT A-3 HISTORIC TRAIL CONCEPT ELEMENTS • CONNECTIONS TO KALISPELL’S INDUSTRIAL HISTORY • INTERPRET RAIL HISTORY AS AN OUTDOOR MUSEUM • MORE STRUCTURED AND DEFINED PROGRAM AND SPACES • A PHYSICAL TIME-LINE • USE OF RAIL INSPIRED DESIGNS AND PATTERNS • USE OF EXISTING HISTORIC MATERIALS CAST IRON BRICK RAILROAD MATERIALS SEATING TRAIL LIGHTING DYNAMIC LIGHTING NATURAL TRAIL CONCEPT ELEMENTS • CONNECTIONS TO KALISPELL’S NATURAL HISTORY • LANDSCAPE BASED DESIGN - UNVEILING ORIGINAL LANDFORMS AND ECOLOGICAL PROCESSES • MORE LOOSELY DEFINED PROGRAM AND SPACES • ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION • FOCUS ON LOCAL FLORAL AND FAUNA • USE OF NATURAL MATERIALS RECLAIMED TIMBER LOCAL STONE NATIVE PLANTS SEATING TRAIL LIGHTING DYNAMIC LIGHTING ---PAGE BREAK--- A-4 WEST TRAILHEAD CONCEPT A CONCEPT B Kiosk + Shelter Existing Gateway Sign New Gateway Sign Restroom + Bike Amenities Existing Gateway Sign New Gateway Sign Restroom + Bike Amenities Timber Seating Picnic Area 8th Ave 8th Ave GRAIN ELEVATOR AREA NATURAL TRAIL HISTORIC TRAIL Cherry Tree Grove Landscape berm Reused Rail-car as food cart Interactive Rail Benches Projected Art Movie Projection 5th Ave 5th Ave ---PAGE BREAK--- TRAIL & COMPLETE STREETS CONCEPT DESIGN REPORT A-5 DEPOT PARK CONCEPT A - Looking South CONCEPT B - Looking South Relocated Rotary Clock Chamber of Commerce Native Tree Allee Interpretive rail time-line w/ timber benches Event space Landscape buffer Market Place Street Market Place Street Main Street Main Street 1st Avenue E 1st Avenue E Vertical art Parking Lot Stormwater planters Cherry grove + v granite Event plaza Proposed Depot Addition Trellis / Shade structure KALISPELL TRAIL DESIGN WOODLAND PARK AREA 120’ RIGHT-OF-WAY EXISTING PROPOSED LOOKING EAST 12’ CONCRETE TRAIL 4’ GRAVEL SHOULDER 4’ GRAVEL SHOULDER NEW RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT SEATING STEPS GRADED BERM WOODLAND PARK 120’ RIGHT-OF-WAY EXISTING PROPOSED LOOKING EAST 12’ CONCRETE TRAIL 4’ GRAVEL SHOULDER 4’ GRAVEL SHOULDER NEW RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT SEATING STEPS GRADED BERM WOODLAND PARK ---PAGE BREAK--- A-6 KALISPELL TRAIL DESIGN GATEWAY BRIDGE OVER HWY 2 HISTORIC TRAIL CONTEMPORARY TRAIL NATURAL TRAIL Flowering native trees Wood / Metal etched panels - backlit Pattern to be designed by community Wildflower slopes Pine Trees Local Lumber Rustic Montana-style Covered bridge Planted buffer Planted buffer Tamarack grove Contemporary artistic truss shelter EAST TRAILHEAD CONCEPT A CONCEPT B Tamarack grove Trail Gateway Sign Ramping Trail Trailhead plaza Parking Lot Trail welcome sign Restroom Landscape buffer Trail Gateway Sign Ramping Trail Trailhead plaza Parking Lot Restroom HWY 2 HWY 2 ---PAGE BREAK--- TRAIL & COMPLETE STREETS CONCEPT DESIGN REPORT A-7 Public feedback received on the complete street alignment options during the Deep Dive was robust and critical for the design process.