Browsing by Subject "Trails"

Now showing 1 - 11 of 11
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    All-Terrain Vehicle Use on the North Shore State Trail: A Feasibility Study
    (2006-03-01) Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
    This study assesses the physical capacity of the North Shore State Trail (NSST) on a 6.4 mile segment to accommodate summer season ATV use. The principal environmental concern noted is potential impact on surface waters and wetlands, especially where the trail crosses protected waters. Of special concern are trout streams and their tributaries and wetlands. Summer season ATV use poses greater risk than all other trail users because of unfrozen conditions and mechanical disturbance to soils. The study finds that the NSST could be capable of supporting summer season ATV use but that modifications would be required throughout the entire length of the trail. Costs of such modifications are estimated at $577,000. The trail in its current condition is not capable of supporting summer season ATV use except where ATV use is already permitted.
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    Circle of Ramsey: Linking People and Landscape Through Greenways
    (Resilient Communities Project (RCP), University of Minnesota, 2017) DesGrado, Alena; Neill, Samantha; Schutt, Jake
    This project was completed as part of the 2017-2018 Resilient Communities Project (rcp.umn.edu) partnership with the City of Ramsey. Ramsey has identified several key ecological and recreation corridors that are prime locations to be connected, integrated, and receive public protection. The City’s broader vision, referred to as the “Circle of Ramsey,” employs a strategy to connect key ecological corridors with larger community parks using greenways and trail corridors. The Circle of Ramsey concept has helped to focus discussion about park dedication for new developments and to identify priority trails for construction within the city. To build public support for additional greenway development, students in Dr. Fernando Burga’s Land Use Planning class outlined the health, environmental, and economic benefits of greenways and recreational trails; researched cases studies of successful greenways in other communities; and proposed options for three extensions to the existing greenway that would better serve specific geographic areas of the community. The report concludes with recommendations to the City for moving forward. The students' final report is available.
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    Dayton Mississippi River Trail
    (Minneapolis: Center for Urban and Regional Affairs, 2009) Shively, Emily; Workman, John
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    Lake County Comprehensive Trail Plan
    (2013) Arrowhead Regional Development Commission
    Executive Summary: “In 2011 Lake County representatives approached the Arrowhead Regional Development Commission regarding the development of a comprehensive trails plan to help the County identify needs, prioritize projects, improve connectivity with other trail systems, increase awareness, and generally improve management of the County’s trail system. In July, 2012, work began on the plan. The plan envisions a trail system that is beneficial to the health, economy, environment, education and quality of life of the County, its residents, and its visitors. Though the plan focuses on trails within the County, it does take into consideration connections to federal, state and local trails and destinations. The plan identified partnership opportunities for Lake County with other governmental organizations, users, and non-profits with interests in the County. The visioning process laid a foundation for future trails, projects, and funding. A marketing plan outline would become beneficial in encouraging residents and visitors to enjoy Lake County’s beauty, recreational offerings, and destinations. Trails are important to the health of County residents, to the economy of the County, and to the overall quality of life for those living in and visiting Lake County. Health and active living studies have shown that active living, including having trails accessible to the local population, results in benefits to physical and mental health. A citizenry that uses trails and outdoor recreation facilities has less obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and a longer life expectancy. The number of trails and trail users have an impact on the economy of Lake County. This impact is especially significant because studies have shown that the northeast region of the state led all regions in trail-related spending in six of ten trail uses. Studies done on the quality of life in other locations indicate that trails have an overall positive influence on quality of life. People enjoy having ready access to the outdoors and maintained, connected trails provide that access. While recreational use figures are not specifically available for Lake County trails, recent studies have categorized use in the 9-county northeast region of the state. Typically, visitor day trail use for snowmobiling, ATV riding, and RVing were higher in the northeast region than any other region in Minnesota, even though the metro area has a much larger population. The northeast area ranked second to the Metro area in cross-country skiing and off-highway motorcycle riding. An important aspect of any trails program is the key recreational attractions that bring visitors from outside the County, as well as being favorite recreational sites of local residents. Vision and goals: Lake County has a long history of trail use tapping its natural resources. Trails have provided access to nearly all areas within the county. Today, these trails are used by residents and visitors year round to view natural attractions, used to access hunting areas, or are part of a destination package. With this in mind, Lake County desired to develop their trails and improve connectivity to enhance the users experience and to promote economic development). The goals are: form a well-connected, integrated trail system; have a system that is manageable and sustainable; a system that is safe; and a system available (or multi-use). Future goals and strategies were developed to address continued growth in the number and different types of users. As the report progressed, four key elements became apparent about the trail needs in the county. They were: • better access to the extensive ATV travel routes system • better connectivity between the City o( Two Harbors and the County’s Trail System • more opportunities for road biking and mountain biking • marketing Lake County’s trails. These elements became the overall recommendations and when looking at the trail maps, it becomes apparent that these concepts apply throughout the county. The plan also contains specific recommendations as well as strategies for implementation. With over 2,000 opportunity miles of trails available, Lake County abounds with opportunities.”
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    Louisville Township Community Trails Plan and Development Project
    (Minneapolis: Center for Urban and Regional Affairs, 2009) Lovell, Erin
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    The Minnesota Bicycle and Pedestrian Counting Initiative: Implementation Study
    (Minnesota Department of Transportation, 2015-06) Lindsey, Greg; Petesch, Michael; Hankey, Steve
    The Minnesota Bicycle and Pedestrian Counting Initiative: Implementation Study reports results from the second in a series of three MnDOT projects to foster non-motorized traffic monitoring. The objectives were to install and validate permanent automated sensors, use portable sensors for short duration counts, develop models for extrapolating counts, and integrate continuous counts into MnDOT traffic monitoring databases. Commercially available sensors, including inductive loops, integrated inductive loops and passive infrared, pneumatic tubes, and radio beams, were installed both as permanent monitor sites and used for short-duration counts at a variety of locations in cities, suburbs, and small towns across Minnesota. All sensors tested in the study produced reasonably accurate measures of bicycle and pedestrian traffic. Most sensors undercounted because of their inability to distinguish and count bicyclists or pedestrians passing simultaneously. Accuracy varied with technology, care and configuration of deployment, maintenance, and analytic methods. Bicycle and pedestrian traffic volumes varied greatly across locations, with highest volumes being on multiuse trails in urban areas. FHWA protocols were used to estimate annual average daily traffic and miles traveled on an 80-mile multiuse trail network in Minneapolis. Project findings were incorporated in a new MnDOT guidance document, “DRAFT Bicycle and Pedestrian Data Collection Manual” used in statewide training workshops. A major challenge in implementing bicycle and pedestrian traffic monitoring is data management. Years will be required to institutionalize bicycle and pedestrian traffic successfully.
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    Neighborhood Revitalization: Phalen Greenway
    (1999) Goetz, Edward; Humphrey Institute Class on Strategies for Neighborhood Revitalization
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    The North West Voyageurs Brigade Historic Trails Award
    (2003) Boy Scouts of America
    This short but interesting pdf describes an award given by the Boy Scouts of America to scouts accomplishing a route in the Voyageur's National Park. It contains a brief history and images of Native American and early European canoe routes. The pdf notes the importance of historic water routes to transportation and commerce.
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    Park Dedication
    (Minneapolis: Center for Urban and Regional Affairs, 2010) Bonsteel, Hayley
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    Ryan Lake Trail Concept Plan
    (2003) Wilson, Craig