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Administrative Administrative Packet MEMORANDUM CITY TO: Kate Aanenson, Community Development Director CHANHASSEN FROM: Todd Hoffman, Park and Recreation Director 7700 Market Boulevard DATE: November 21, 2011 PO Box 147 Chanhassen, MN 55317 SUBJ: Trail Implementation Report — City of Shorewood Administration Phone: 952.2271100 Thank you for forwarding the City of Shorewood's Trail Implementation Report to Fax: 952.227.1110 my attention for review and comment. It is very satisfying to read that Shorewood continues to place a high priority on non - motorized travel and recreational trail use Building Inspections within their community. Mr. Ed Hasek, the Ad Hoc Committee Chair, is a former Phone: 952.2271180 Fax: 952.2271190 Chanhassen Park and Recreation Commission member that served the community well during his tenure with us. Over the years the City of Chanhassen has "dead - Engineering ended" a handful of trails at or near the Shorewood border in anticipation that future Phone: 952.2271160 connections would be made. Fully completing these trail corridors will add Fax: 952.2271170 significant value to residents of both communities by opening up destinations that are Finance currently unattainable. Phone: 952.2271140 The City of Chanhassen is experiencing the same reduction in park and trail Fax: 952.2271110 development revenue cited in the report. To best leverage the limited funds dedicated Park & Recreation specifically to park and trail improvements, the city has sought out partnerships with Phone: 952.227.1120 other government entities and financial assistance through trail grants. With a project Fax: 952.2271110 partner or financial assistance, the City has been successful in continuing to finish out the development of our comprehensive trail plan. I encourage the City of Shorewood Recreation Center to seek out similar arrangements. 2310 Coulter Boulevard Phone: 952.2271400 Specific to the report I am very pleased to see the high priority ranking of three trails Fax: 952.2271404 that make connections to the City of Chanhassen. Planning & Priority I Natural Resources Phone: 952.2271130 Fax: 952.2271110 Improvement 3. Mill Street Trail — I cannot think of a more highly anticipated community -to- community trail connection in our area than the Mill Street (Powers Public Works Boulevard) connection. That will be one well - attended ribbon cutting ceremony! 7901 Park Place Phone: 952.227.1300 Improvement 4. Galpin Lake Road Trail — Here again the City of Chanhassen has Fax: 952.2271310 extended an eight -foot wide asphalt pedestrian trail north to just short of the Shorewood municipal border. We stand ready to work with Shorewood Community Senior Center Leaders to finish this important neighborhood -to- neighborhood community trail Phone: 952.2271125 connection. Fax: 952.2271110 Web Site www.ci.chanhassen.mn.us Chanhassen is a Community for Life - Providing for Today and Planning for Tomorrow Kate Aanenson November 21, 2011 Page 2 Priority II Improvement 1. Lake Linden Drive to Highway 7/41 Intersection — Trail improvements in this corridor currently being planned by Chanhassen and Carver County are likely to bump this Shorewood trail connector to a Priority I. In 2012/2013 the City of Chanhassen and Carver County will construct significant trail segments within the Highway 41 corridor including pedestrian connections to Minnetonka Middle School West and a pedestrian underpass to Lake Minnewashta Regional Park. The northern terminus of these trail improvements will be a pedestrian crossing at Chaska Road which then links to the proposed Shorewood trail connection at the Highway 7 and Highway 41 pedestrian crosswalk. Soon Shorewood residents will have the opportunity to walk or bike to Middle School West, the Lake Minnewashta Regional Park Beach or Off -Leash Dog Area, and the entire City of Chanhassen trail system. Questions regarding these proposed future community -to- community trail connections can be directed to Todd Gerhardt, Chanhassen City Manager or Todd Hoffman, Chanhassen Park and Recreation Director. c: Todd Gerhardt, City Manager Laurie Hokkanen, Assistant City Manager Paul Oehme, Director of Public Works /City Engineer g: \park \th \shorewood connectors.doc Trail Plan Implementation Report City of Shorewood Prepared by the Ad Hoc Trail Committee October 2011 A ooCal/ thounks to th& volimAteork who- - s-pe.nt incurvy hours 144/ the/ p reprcttCo-vt' of th report: Ad Hoc Trail Committee: Debbie Siakel, City Council Laura Hotvet, City Council David Hutchins, Planning Commission Chair - Ed Hasek, Planning Commission Steve Quinlan, Park Commission Bob Edmondson, Park Commission Mary Donahue, Resident at Large Michael Dodd, Resident at Large City Staff: Brian Heck, City Administrator Larry Brown, Public Works Director Brad Nielsen, Planning Director -1- I. Introduction The Transportation Chapter of the Shorewood Comprehensive Plan includes a Trail Concept Plan map that illustrates a potential system of trails for the City of Shorewood. The purpose of that plan is to serve as a guide for development proposals and street construction projects, and derives from goals, objectives and policies set forth in the Transportation Plan. The goal specific to trails is worth repeating here: "The City should establish a plan for an interconnected system of trails, enhancing the safe movement of pedestrians, bicyclists and other modes of non - motorized travel." Although the City constructed several trail segments of varying designs over the years, a drastic reduction in land development and limited financial resources have resulted in little trail construction in the past few years. The City's recent discussions on sustainability sparked renewed interest in implementing the Trail Concept Plan. The City has elected to participate in the Minnesota GreenSteps Program sponsored by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. One of the "best practices" set forth in the program includes the promotion of walking and biking. To this end, the Shorewood City Council established an Ad Hoc Trail Committee, consisting of two Planning Commission members, two Park Commission members, two members of the City Council and two at -large residents. The Committee was charged with reviewing the current Trail Concept Plan, prioritizing trail segments to be constructed, and recommending implementation strategy — primarily how the construction of trails could be incorporated into the City's Capital Improvements Plan. 6 ' > +, It should be noted that the MNNIEWA=NTA I,►O, , term "trail", , as used in the are a 4gii <; �, - _ - Comprehensive Plan and in eE + + { , :a ,�r ( ' this report, is intended to �` - include the entire gamut of mirs pedestrian/bicycle facilities in Shorewood. Considerable - thought has been given as to whether these facilities should be called pathways, sidewalks, trails, "linear pedestrian ways ", bike paths, etc. The consensus is that the term trails addresses all of the various types of facilities. Further, a trail may simply be a designated route along an Five -foot concrete walk - Minnewashta Elementary existing street in some cases. -2- II. Comprehensive Plan Update The Trail Committee reviewed the Transportation Chapter of the Shorewood Comprehensive Plan relative to Bicycle /Pedestrian Trails and found it to be up -to -date and pertinent. As such, the Committee does not propose changes to the text of the Comprehensive Plan. The Committee does, however, suggest revisions to the Trail Concept Plan map as follows: • The title, Trail Concept Plan, should be changed to Trail Plan • A trail should be added along Strawberry Lane • A trail should be added along Eureka Road • The trail south of Highway 7 on Covington Road should be deleted • The segment of trail on Manor Road, south of St. Albans Bay Road should be deleted • Consider changing the legend on the map from "Possible Trail" to Future Trail The proposed changes are illustrated on the map on the following page. ;_ SiIverwood _r— Park " _ '� ; ,,�{4 t 'y - -, 1 y ,,., ... '- ✓'Sir"` 9� 1. ' RR'' S 't{T'' £, i J 4d yP f t ' 1A ,,,, .+Y' °'' *, T 1,,,......„— _ �. d 4 - , cv \ ins s 3 'v ,.t � ` L f . F i r k '' Y R' r a t ° a T‘41-. t v 5l, �. 1, , ,„\,..,,, ,,.. 0,44- , E � , � ti 4:1''':‘' � 1 ! Ay� .., v � �. i v 1. ,,,.` ,, `s r , ., u - 7 ,' '' �' a P ]I ` 3 .cki f �� `A , � 1 �, 1 ''', ' h , ktk '" , s , 4 tea. ,,'.f,,,,,,'''''.. - : } , _, 4 r Six -foot bituminous trail near Silverwood Park -3- III. Trail Plan Priorities "Health, safety, and the general welfare" is a phrase that drives much of what the City does. These words are quite pertinent in the planning of trail facilities. The Shorewood Comprehensive Plan recognizes trails not only as providing an alternative to the use of automobiles, but as an important recreational aspect of the community. The Trail Plan map, found in the Transportation chapter of the Comprehensive Plan, shows the location of existing and proposed trails in Shorewood. Aside from a process for public involvement, the Transportation Plan lacks an implementation strategy for the construction of trails. In identifying trail priorities, the Committee considered the following issues: • Health. Walking and bicycling are recognized as contributing to the overall health of the community. • Safety. In order to promote walking and bicycling as healthy activities, it is critical that these activities be made as safe as possible. In this regard the separation of trail facilities from streets should be pursued to the extent feasible. • Connectivity. It is important that trails go somewhere. Providing safe routes to schools has been identified as a top priority, especially in light of School District policy that eliminates bussing for students within one mile of school. Connecting existing trails to other trail systems (i.e. the LRT Regional Trail and trail systems in other communities) adds miles to the system that Shorewood can provide on its own. Lastly, it is important to tie neighborhoods to other neighborhoods and to other destinations within the community. With these criteria for guidance, the Trail Committee broke the Trail Plan into four priority groups. It was suggested that Priority I trails would be completed in the next three to five years. Priority II trails would be scheduled for years 5 -10 and Priority III trails would happen in 10 -15 years. Priority IV trails would not be programmed until after 15 years. Following is a brief description of the priorities: Priority I (3 -5 years) 1. County Road 19, Smithtown Crossing to LRT Trail. This segment is part of the County Road 19 Corridor Study, adopted in 2003. Its high priority is based on availability of existing right -of -way, anticipated lack of neighborhood resistance and its function of connecting the Smithtown Crossing and Shorewood's civic campus with the LRT Trail. 2. Smithtown Road, Shorewood /Victoria boundary to Minnewashta Elementary School. This segment enhances safety for people on the west end of Shorewood to walk or bike to school and connects to the trail system in Victoria. There appears to be some neighborhood support for this connection. 3. Mill Street, Shorewood /Chanhassen boundary to Shorewood /Excelsior boundary. This segment connects Shorewood residents living south of Highway 7 with both the City of Excelsior and the Chanhassen trail system. Again some level of neighborhood support has been expressed. -5- 4. Galpin Lake Road, Shorewood /Chanhassen boundary to Shorewood /Excelsior boundary. (See 3. above). Priority II (5 -10 years) ( -4%11 1. Lake Linden Drive to Highway 7/41 intersection. This segment is a short connection between the existing trail / ot on Lake Linden with the trail system to the south in Chanhassen. 4 " - � s , ; ad POP 7401 2. Smithtown Road, Minnewashta Elementary School to Smithtown Crossing. This segment is intended to enhance safety for residents east of the Minnewashta Elementary MI school, connecting with the existing sidewalk system at Smithtown i Crossing and providing a loop to the LRT Trail. 3. Country Club Road and Yellowstone Trail, Smithtown Crossing to Lake Linden. This segment connects the existing sidewalk on Lake Linden Drive with the existing pedestrian circulation system at Smithtown Crossing. 4. County Road 19, Shore Road to Shorewood /Excelsior boundary. End of the trail. Six-foot concrete — Victoria. This segment extends the sidewalk system at Smithtown Crossing eastward toward Excelsior, providing another loop to the LRT Trail. 5. Strawberry Lane, West 62 to Minnewashta Elementary. The Committee recommends adding this segment to the Trail Plan. It provides pedestrian/bicycle access from adjoining neighborhoods to the Minnewashta Elementary School. 6. Eureka Road, north. This segment has been added by the Committee and provides neighborhoods north of Smithtown Road with access to the Minnewashta Elementary School and to the LRT Trail. -8- Priority III (10 -15 years) 1. St. Albans Bay Road, Manor Park to Highway 7. This segment links Manor Park to the South Shore Skate Park and provides an extension connecting across Highway 7 to the sidewalk system on Old Market Road 2. Howards Point Road, Edgewood, Grant Lorenz loop. This proposed loop would provide area residents with a connection to Smithtown Road and quite possibly could be a designated route on existing streets. 3. Vine Hill Road, existing trail north to State Highway 7. This segment provides safe access for the Shady Hills neighborhood along a relatively busy collector street. Priority IV (15+ years) 1. Link east of Public Safety facility, County Road 19 to LRT Trail. Assuming topography issues can be overcome, this segment provides a link and a loop from County Road 19 to the LRT Trail. 2 Timber Lane, County Road 19 to LRT Trail. This short segment of trail provides one more link/loop from County Road 19 to the LRT Trail. 3. Enchanted Lane, Minnetrista border to Shady Island bridge. This segment may be limited to road and right -of -way improvements to enhance walking and bicycling. The Trail Plan map on the following page color codes the trail system into the four priority groups. n 's 7` • ► w Y* z . ,.7"0. ,t'-::::3'..i.;,..• a x � 1- (' „ y 'TRAIL . R 1' t,, ...'"... .4....-;:"'•%„1.'-' .,,-''-L'' ' '-, '., - , .--.*:,/ ,A,. . ' , -.„ ' : y } :.' ''' ' — — '•-•tfX ;,7;,...` * - .. , _ . ' ' , ' - % . \ •',., ':' , ' , 4 ,...,''' ' . ' 7 4 V.' : , .` i . : ” "; 1 . _- - " ......44-•• ' 4 „..,, „.. , 4e i . ., , ' . I .. _ --:. - '- ) - � . .. t •_ . 2_, . 4 r �' ' #fi . x :1 tig, -- Family waits to cross County Road 19 -9- IV. Draft Trail Capital Improvement Plan (Reserved for Future Use) -11- V. Public Participation The Trail Committee strongly believes and supports getting residents involved in the trail development process and making sure the affected neighborhoods and property owners receive as much information about the projects as possible. To that end, the Committee suggests using several approaches to disseminate information, gather feedback, and garner support for the development of the trail infrastructure in the city. City News Letters: The City produces a monthly newsletter, the ShoreReport, and distributes it to each household in the community. This is a static method the Committee can use to provide general information on the planning process and as a method to direct interested residents to additional resources and information. City Website: More detailed information on the trail plan can be i° _ placed on the website. Some items n to include on the website after acceptance of the plan: a map of the plan identifying trail segments by : '` priority, a listing of segments by • ,f,41,„!/ ;.; ; { priority, information on how priorities were determined, proposed " budget information, pictures of trail in other communities, and �1 T information on the benefits of trails. • te a. Neighborhood Meetings: The Committee or select members of the __ Committee would meet with individual neighborhoods affected — =^, by planned trail segments. This an opportunity for the neighborhood to ask questions, walk the proposed route, and provide input and suggestions on material, location, potential hazards, etc. -` Before these meetings, it might be ,�" ' ; beneficial for the Committee to rt identify a neighborhood "champion" _ ""`"`"- to help organize the meeting, walk, and be a contact person on behalf of ‘.,„4 the neighborhood. ; 4r These neighborhood meetings will Six -foot bituminous trail - Covington Road also be beneficial in identifying any potential issues that need addressing. -12- Direct Mailing: The City could prepare a direct mailing to residents in the affected area outlining the proposed project and include specific information on the planned design, location, benefits, drawbacks, and address common questions such as maintenance and winter shoveling. These mailings might be more beneficial a couple weeks before a planned neighborhood meeting. Public Hearing: This is a more formal and traditional method used to garner residential input and may not be the most effective communication and public participation methodology. These forums are generally poorly attended unless the issue is contentious and controversial. This is not the recommended method for gaining public input or support for the program and plan. Targeted Polling: This method involves sending a poll or survey '. questionnaire, either paper or electronic, to the impacted residents or households asking specific and ` questions targeted uestions related to the issue g of trail construction. This tool can be used prior to a direct mailing and /or "'N ¶ m neighborhood meeting to gather basic t ,, 1 : • information on feelings and possible r, `$' issues related to the implementation t � -r x T of the trail plan. , ;.; y. L ' y a 5 . •�- •: t X. � - ' �, /Y 4•-,W , t Face to Face individual meetings: 4 a � eyr >< fi r, This process involves Committee € members meeting with one or two rZ residents in the neighborhood, or Yet having the "champion(s)" and a Committee member, meeting one on one, or with a couple of neighbors, to informally talk and promote the idea of the trail plan, the benefits of a comprehensive trail system, to answer questions, and provide information and additional resources. The benefit of this method — it is not "the government" promoting its own plan, but residents who are also affected individuals promoting the plan. Four -foot bituminous trail - Near Mountain -13- VI. Trail Implementation Process This outlines the general process the city will follow in implementing the trail plan. • July — September the park commission reviews the trail plan and available funding then makes recommendations to the Council. • December, the Council adopts the final Capital Improvement Plan for Trails as indicated in the plan and /or recommended by the Park Commission. • During the months of January — April staff prepares rough cost estimates for the project based on general design standards e.g. 6' bituminous, researches easements, conducts preliminary review with the Watershed District, and identifies stakeholders. • May — August the proposed plan is reviewed by the park commission and neighborhood meetings and walks are held to go over the project, answer questions regarding funding, timing, maintenance, etc. • September — December staff prepares final plans and specifications for the trail segment based on feedback provided by residents and park commission. • January — February staff publishes plans and specifications trail construction. • March — April staff provides recommendation to Park Commission on lowest responsible bidder and Park Commission provides recommendation to Council to proceed with award of the project. • May — August trail construction underway and completed. -14- Rice Marsh Lake Trail Bridge — Rick Getschow, Eden Prairie City Manager Page 1 of 2 CITY MANAGER POLICE DEPT FIRE CHIEF EP LIQUOR Links Rice Marsh Lake Trail Bridge CITY BLOGS City Home September 1, 2011 - 10:56 am Eden Prairie Liauor Yesterday we set a new bike trail bridge over Riley Creek adjacent to TH 212. This Pratt Truss style bridge was manufactured by Wheeler in Shakopee, MN Search for: and shipped on a flatbed trailer in one piece. It was then lifted by a very large crane from the trailer on the side of the highway and placed on the new concrete bridge abutments from nearly 100 feet away. I Search _ This bridge is at the terminus of the current bike trail project that starts in Rice Marsh Lake Park and ends at the creek. The 4,000 foot long, eight foot wide bituminous trail is being l constructed using the remaining funds from the 2005 Park Bond Referendum that were earmarked for the construction of new bike trails. Grading for this project started in July and the trail should be paved in early September. Shoulder restoration Rick Getschow and seeding work will be done after the paving is completed. City Manager Although this is currently a "dead end" trail, plans are being prepared for the Contact Rick extension of this bike trail from the Riley Creek bridge crossing, south under TH 212, and all the way to Lake Riley Road. Construction bids for this next Rick's most recent 5,000 feet of trail will be opened on September 15. Hopefully with favorable blog headlines weather the trail will be completed prior to winter- otherwise it will have to be finished next spring. Aaa Bond Rating Market Value Future extension of the bike trail to the west is planned to be done whenever Homestead Credit Chanhassen completes their proposed bike trail along the southwest and Changes southern side of Rice Marsh Lake. By linking to this future trail connection Governor Dayton Visits residents of both communities will have the opportunity to ride /run /walk a loop trail around Rice Marsh Lake. Southwest Liaht Rail Moves Forward Bridge details: length - 70 feet, width - 10 feet, weight - 24,000 pounds Rice Marsh Lake Trail (12 tons), load /carrying capacity - 10,000 pounds (5 tons). Bridge Recommend One recommendation. Sign Up to see 0 tweet what your friends recommend. Blog Archives This entry was written by Rick Getschow and filed under Community, Parks & Recreation, Public Select Month Works. Both comments and trackbacks are currently closed. http: // edenprairieweblogs .org /rickgetschow /posts /313/ 11/22/2011 Rice Marsh Lake Trail Bridge — Rick Getschow, Eden Prairie City Manager Page 2 of 2 « Night To Unites ` Blog Categories Southwest Light Rail Moves Forward » f Select Category •' 1 g E -mail Updates h1 . —' ►�'�'�� a ' Click here to receive CITY BLOGS e-mail t, . updates. • • © 2011 City of Eden Prairie. http: / /edenprairieweblogs .org/rickgetschow /posts /313/ 11/22/2011