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1 Frequently Asked Questions About the Riverfront Trail Resurfacing Project May, 2010 Fast Facts At the request of numerous citizens, the City of Missoula is paving a section of the Riverfront Trail on Friday, May 21. The trail will be closed from 5:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., from the Orange St. pedestrian underpass to the Van Buren footbridge (south shore.) Paving will improve travel conditions for bicycle and pedestrian commuters year-round, in all weather conditions. The project will increase safety and accessibility by making snow and ice removal more efficient. Call 721-PARK or visit www.missoulaparks.org for more information. Why does the City need to pave the trail? The trail is a very popular bicycle/pedestrian commuter route, as shown by the recent non-motorized traffic counts done by the Office of Planning and Grants. According to the count, the Orange Street pedestrian underpass is second only to The University of Montana’s main entrance at University and Arthur in pedestrian/bicycle use. Even though the trail is plowed and sanded regularly in the winter, the gravel surface does not allow Park maintenance crews to keep the trail completely clear of ice and mud. For the last several years, many bicycle and pedestrian commuters have been asking the City to pave this short trail section to make commuting safer and easier, especially during inclement weather. According to advocates for people with disabilities, theyexperience frequent challenges or disruption of use with the gravel surface. Those who need to stay clean and dry on their way to work have reported they can’t use the trail during inclement weather. Citizens who can’t risk a slip or fall on ice don’t use the trail in the winter. The goal of this project is to make the trail MORE accessible and to encourage MORE citizens to get out and walk or bike. Why can’t folks who want a paved surface use the north shore Riverfront Trail or the Street and sidewalk system? Both trails are important to the system and all users. The south riverfront trail is one of the most scenic and widely used portions due in large part to its location and connectivity to various primary destination hot spots throughout Missoula including Osprey Stadium, McCormick Park, Orange Street, Higgins Street, Downtown, the Madison Street Bridge, and The University of Montana. The trail serves as a convenient and enjoyable route for commuters who prefer an alternative mode of transportation to driving. Street routes are great for some, but people prefer or need a safe trail route for their commute. ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 Why does the City need to pave the trail here and now? This project was approved by the Park Board, Administration and Finance Committee and City Council through the FY 08 public City budget process. Through the Missoula Urban Transportation Plan, the Envision Missoula Long Range Transportation Plan, the Missoula Urban Fringe Development Area (UFDA) Project and many other local planning efforts, citizens have identified the Riverfront Trail System and Bitterroot Branch Trails as Missoula’s primary and priority commuter routes. The City has an opportunity, with current funding, equipment availability and materials to act now. Won’t we lose the natural character of the trail by paving it? There are several parks along the Riverfront Trail which contain unpaved “natural” trails. McCormick Park, the Clark Fork Natural Park, Jacob’s Island Park and the Kim Williams Nature Trail all contain gravel-surface trails. Missoula’s Open Space system features over 100 miles of trails. In addition, an unpaved “runner’s/hiker’s tread” will remain alongside the paved trail wherever possible along the route. Future plans include partnerships with running/walking groups to install “runner’s treads” along additional paved trails. The paving project brings the opportunity to actually protect some of the natural values of the Riverfront Trail. The project will improve precipitation drainage to prevent erosion and prevent trail “widening” and will help combat noxious weeds. Why is it important to increase accessibility on the trail? Travis Hoffman, Advocacy Coordinator at Summit Independent Living Center, says it best: “July 26, 2010 marks the 20th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a comprehensive federal civil-rights statute protecting the rights of people with disabilities, and so, we are thrilled to see the Parks and Recreation Department continuing to move forward in its goal to ensure that all Missoulians have full access to and are able to utilize the many outdoor recreational opportunities that our community has to offer. For commuters with disabilities… it isn’t always about choosing an alternative mode of transportation. Oftentimes people with disabilities do not drive themselves and sometimes do not have access to other means of transportation and so must rely on Missoula’s extensive trail and sidewalk network to walk, wheel, or ride from point A to point B and back. The concerns with the accessibility and the need for this improvement on this portion of the trail system are not born out of mere “convenience." While the accessibility problems on this portion of the trail system are most evident when there is inclement weather, there have always been barriers that have prevented it from being fully accessible and, as a result, at times difficult and/or impossible for some people with disabilities to navigate safely or at all. The trail … surface…creates a substantial barrier for individuals who use manual wheelchairs as well as walkers and even makes it very difficult for users of power wheelchairs to navigate. ---PAGE BREAK--- 3 Will paving increase bicycle speed and make the trail unsafe for pedestrians? Missoula trail advocates have noticed an interesting trend: when more people use a trail, cyclists slow down and are more cautious. The department receives very few reports of bicycle/pedestrian collisions on the paved north shore Riverfront Trail—in part because pedestrians and cyclists have learned to share the trail. The City has several tools in its arsenal to educate citizens and control bicycle speed, including signage, traffic control devices on the trail, public education and enforcement. Parks and Recreation is committed to making the trail safe for ALL users. Here are some of the “rules of the road” that will be posted on the trail: Bicyclists/Skaters Yield to pedestrians. Pass on the left, and give an audible alert. Maintain a safe passing distance. Slow down when approaching and passing walkers, runners, and other bicyclists and skaters. Speed limit: 10 miles per hour when other trail users are present. Walkers/Runners Walk/run on the right. Pass on the left. Remember, people on wheels may be approaching from behind. All path and trail users Always be courteous and share the road. Pay attention. Say, "Passing on your left" when passing slower moving path and trail users. Remember, pedestrians always have the right of way. Groups should never use more than half of the trail. Keep pets on a short leash and under control at all times. The best place for pets is on the right shoulder of the trail, next to their owner. Remember, to pick up pet waste Isn’t paving with asphalt bad for the environment? The City has carefully considered the environmental effects of asphalt paving with this project. Asphalt trails do not have the same environmental impacts as asphalt parking lots and streets, because bikers and pedestrians do not produce the same pollutants that cars do. Encouraging non-motorized transportation by making it easier and safer has a positive environmental impact by getting more people out of their cars and on the trails. In addition, potential run-off with the trail will be somewhat mitigated by landscaping and vegetation. ---PAGE BREAK--- 4 Are there alternatives to asphalt? Some citizens have expressed interest in maintaining permeable surfaces near the Clark Fork River. The Missoula Institute for Sustainable Transportation is partnering with Parks and Recreation to produce a permeable-surface demonstration project on the section of trail near the Clark Fork Native Prairie in John Toole Park. The demonstration project will cover the trail surface with paving tiles, similar to those found in Caras Park, to test the durability and drainage of pavers for use on commuter trails. MIST is raising funds for the project; interested citizens should all 880-6834 for more information or visit the MIST website at www.strans.org. In addition, the City of Missoula and MIST are working together to research alternatives to asphalt paving for use in future City projects. How much does this project cost and who is paying for it? Asphalt and drainage materials for the project will cost $30,000. The project is funded by the City’s park maintenance program and by funds designated for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The City Streets Division is providing equipment and labor for the project. Where can I find more information about this project? For questions or comments, please phone Donna Gaukler, Parks and Recreation Director, at 552-6265. Project updates will be posted at www.missoulaparks.org.