New IDOT Statewide Bicycle/Pedestrian Plan
Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT) is holding meetings to request public input on the development of a new statewide plan for bicycle and pedestrian transportation. Iowa is behind many neighboring states such as Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Missouri that have state sponsored trails that extend beyond the urban counties. The only reason that the Cedar Valley Nature Trail exists today is that Linn and Blackhawk Counties stepped up and assumed responsibility for the trail in the rural counties of Benton and Buchanan Counties. It is important that LCTA trail supporters have a strong presence at this meeting. Please plan on attending!
Next Monday – November 4th 5-7:00 PM, IDOT Office 5455 Kirkwood Blvd SW – Conference Room A
Bicycle and Pedestrian Long-Range Plan
Project description
Walking and biking are proven ways to improve the quality of life for all of us, providing healthy alternatives for people to get where they need to go. Many Iowans have embraced bicycling and walking for both recreation and daily transportation. Iowa’s extensive trails system continues to evolve and recreational events such as Iowa's RAGBRAI event each July continues to grow in popularity.
Moving forward, the Iowa DOT has made a commitment to our customers to develop a Bicycle and Pedestrian Long-Range Plan to expand opportunities and further improve conditions for bicycling and walking across the state.
This plan will build upon the Iowa DOT’s long-range strategy for multimodal transportation over the next three decades, Iowa in Motion – Planning Ahead 2040. The Bicycle and Pedestrian Long-Range Plan has three key objectives:
- Align with national best practices, including the federal transportation funding bill called Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21) and national guidelines for trail development.
- Develop a list of priorities to expand the trails system between and within cities.
- Help state and local agencies to put the plan in place by providing tools for funding and design.
Upon its completion, this plan will serve as the primary guide for statewide decision-making regarding bicycle and pedestrian programs and facilities, including sidewalks, trails, bike lanes, paved shoulders, and other trail elements. It will also help achieve a better level of statewide coordination and continuity for all levels of bicycle and pedestrian mobility through regional, county, and city plans and programs.
It is a primary goal of this project to get customer input during the development of the plan through public meetings, social media, and email. The initial round of public meetings will be held in November 2013. Visit the "Public Involvement" page to find out how you can get involved.
Public meetings and locations
It is a primary goal of this project to engage citizens during the development of the plan. The following public meetings have been scheduled.
Monday, Nov. 4, 2013
5 to 7 p.m.
IDOT District 6 Office - conference room A
5455 Kirkwood Blvd. SW.
Cedar Rapids, IA 52404
http://www.iowadot.gov/
Lindale Trail is now open
The Cedar Rapids segment of the Lindale Trail is now paved. The Trail is open! This trail is unique in the Metro area in that it includes 3 ft gravel paths on either side of the 10 ft asphalt pavement. We hope this accommodates both runners and bikers. Bike traffic significantly increases when a trail is paved but runners strongly prefer a gravel path. We would like to know if this should be a design standard for future trail construction when sufficient width allows.
Linn County Trails Association (LCTA) initiated the Lindale Trail project 3 years ago when Tom Treharne, Marion Planning & Development Director, suggested that we adopt the project to continue the trail in Marion that extended to the Marion City Limit on an abandoned railroad right-of-way. LCTA has contributed over $55,000 to the development, including a $15,000 contribution from Rockwell Collins. The City of Cedar Rapids has contributed the crushed limestone, the crews and equipment to grade and pave the trail and $16,000 towards the cost of asphalt. THIS WAS A TEAM EFFORT AND WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED IF ALL PARTIES HAD NOT CONTRIBUTED!
Projects like this are funded by the LCTA supporters that make annual contributions to LCTA for trail development in the Linn County Area. Please add your support. TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE TRAILS HAPPEN!
Lindale Trail is located north of Blairs Ferry Rd extending east from C Ave NE (in front of Walgreens).
Lindale Trail Paving
The Cedar Rapids portion of the Lindale Trail is in the process of being paved! Work should be finished by Tuesday (10/15), so please use caution if you plan to use this trail before then. Please check the trails status page for the latest updates on all Linn County Trails.
https://linncountytrails.org/maps/trail-status/
