Corridor MPO funding & STP funds
Last November, LCTA asked trail supporters to contact members of the Corridor Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) to advocate for the use of STP funds for trail development. As a reminder, a Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is an entity composed of local elected officials, state agency representatives, and residents that is tasked with reviewing and approving transportation investments in a metropolitan area.
The Corridor MPO recently voted to use 80% of STP funds for trail development. The STP budget is approximately $3 million dollars. This is a big accomplishment for trail development in our region and now LCTA asks that trail supporters say thank you to the MPO for funding and supporting trail development. The best way to communicate with the MPO is through their website: http://www.corridormpo.com/about-us/95-feedback/140-contact-us. An example thank you is available below. If you contacted an MPO member previously, please feel free to follow up with thapersonal directly.
Dear Corridor MPO Member,
My name is (insert name) and I am a resident of (insert city of residence, work, leisure, etc). (Explain how or why you use the trails and why the decision to fund trails is a benefit to you).
There are key reasons to why this decision is so important for area residents:
1) Tax Effective Products - The report “Active Transportation: Cost-Effective Mobility Improvements—for Everyone” by Rails to Trails Conservancy explains that walking and bicycling transportation projects make the most of every tax dollar spent. “With fewer federal dollars available, these projects can be completed at a low cost, are highly popular and significantly improve mobility (RailstoTrails.org).”
2) Healthiest State Initiative - “Rather than asking people to increase their will power, the Blue Zones Community model works to improve environments. Little changes to your home, work, school, social, physical, and policy environments can make healthy choices the easy choices so that well-being improves naturally (BlueZonesProjects.com).” Connected trails make the healthy decision the easy decision.
3) Quality of Life - Trails have a high impact on quality of life for a region. Safe, connected trails offer opportunities for commuting and recreation. Funding trail development at this level will have a positive impact on the quality of life for residents in the region.
Thank you for your support!
Lindale Trail donation
On Tuesday April 24 Cedar Rapids City Council will accept the donation of property from LCTA for development of the Lindale Trail. Linn County Trails Association has been working to develop a significant recreational trail and an important bicycle commuting route to Rockwell Collins. Blairs Ferry Rd from C Ave NE to Lindale Drive is a narrow 4 lane busy thoroughfare and is not a safe bicycle commuting route! There are currently no bicycle trail connections between the two largest cities in the metropolitan area; Marion and Cedar Rapids. This project supports a Blue Zones Initiative objective of promoting healthy lifestyle by making it feasible for many employees to commute to Rockwell Collins and other nearby businesses by bicycle or walking. Non-motorized commuting supports the new Cedar Rapids iGreenCR program since it is environmentally sound to reduce automobile traffic.
LCTA has purchased an abandoned railroad right-of-way within the Cedar Rapids City Limits in order to extend the Lindale Trail east from the C Ave/Blairs Ferry Rd NE intersection to Marion City Limits. LCTA is donating the property (6.37 acres, approximately 2000 ft of trail) to the City of Cedar Rapids. Access to the trail from C Ave is via an existing easement through the IBEW property. Entry from C Ave is in front of the Walgreens Drug Store or from Blairs Ferry Rd east of the Road Ranger convenience store. The Cedar Rapids Comprehensive Trails Plan will eventually connect it to the Cedar River trail from the west and the Marion trails plan will eventually connect it to the Grant Wood Trail from the east. LCTA has been working with the cities of Cedar Rapids and Marion to develop the donated property at minimum cost by using city staff and equipment. LCTA recently completed a cleanup project on the property. It took three Solid Waste Agency trucks to haul away all the accumulated trash of the abandoned railway.
LCTA and the Cedar Rapids Staff are co-chairs of the Blue Zones Walkability/Bikeablity Initiative. The Lindale Trail project is an example of what can be accomplished when we bring the communities together in a cooperative effort to make Cedar Rapids and the entire Metro Area a healthier community!
Race on Cedar River Trail
On Saturday, April 21st at 6PM, the Healthy Counties/Healthy Families 5k Run/Walk will take place on the Cedar River Trail, starting at City Lot 44.
For details about the event or to register, please visit: www.ecofestcr.wordpress.com.
Please be cautious of trail users at all time!
Lindale Trail Cleanup - Mission Accomplished
Thank you everyone that helped with the cleanup on Saturday. You did in a day what I thought would take 2-3 days. Cedar Rapids Solid Waste Agency hauled it all away in three truck loads, including the big green tank that will be hauled away tomorrow.
Linn Area Mountain Bike Association (LAMBA) will be planting seedling trees at Beverly Park this Saturday and Monday. If you have time, please come out to help. LAMBA is a strong trail supporter and a good friend of LCTA
Blue Zones Tomorrow!!
“Flood the Street” for Blue Zone Site Visit on March 1
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – February 24, 2012 – Mayor Ron Corbett invites everyone who lives, works or plays in Cedar Rapids to join him in welcoming the Blue Zones Project Team to our community by “flooding the street” with smiling faces on Thursday, March 1, from 7:20 to 8:00 a.m. near the CSPS/Legion Arts Hall at 1103 Third Street SE.
“I encourage everyone to join us in the New Bohemia District to demonstrate our commitment to becoming a Blue Zone Community,” said Mayor Corbett. “Please wear blue clothing, wave welcome signs and bring your friends to join the welcoming party.”
Attendees are not encouraged to actually stand in the street. Instead, please stand on nearby sidewalks.
Volunteer Opportunity
Interested in volunteering, beautifying trails and making a positive difference in nature? Consider helping the City of Cedar Rapids Parks and Recreation Department spread prairie seeds at Prairie Park Fishery. On Tuesday, March 6th at 9AM, city staff will be working with a group of student volunteers from Kirkwood Community College to spread prairie seeds. No RSVP necessary. No tools necessary, but please dress for the weather! For any questions about the project, please contact: Daniel Gibbins, d.gibbins@cedar-rapids.org.
Prairie Park Fishery - Courtesy Reminder
LCTA and the City of Cedar Rapids would like to remind bicyclists of the multi-use of the Prairie Park Fishery Trail. This 1.7 mile loop is heavily used by walkers and people with children or reduced mobility. People on bicycles should be provide verbal warning and slow down when nearing walkers, runners and those with limited mobility. The intent of this loop is not a race track, so please be considerate when riding in this area. LCTA appreciates your cooperation.
LAMBA Party
One last reminder about the annual membership drive / fundraiser party for the Linn Area Mt. Bike Association (LAMBA):
this Saturday, 6-9 pm at EcoLips in the Cherry Building,
food and drink provided, and
Family friendly!
follow this link for all pertinent info...
http://www.bikeiowa.com/asp/calendar/RidePopUp.asp?m=&e=6301
Support the Comprehensive Trails Plan
LCTA needs your help! In August 2009, the Cedar Rapids City Council agreed to develop a Comprehensive Trails Plan. The direction from the Council was to provide a multi-modal connectivity system for the community (finding safe and efficient ways for bicylists and pedestrians to use the same streets as motorized vehicles). At the City of Cedar Rapids Infrastructure Committee meeting this week, the Committee finalized its recommendation for the Comprehensive Trails Plan. The plan will be presented at the Council meeting on Tuesday, January 24th at 4:00PM. LCTA is asking members to support the plan by contacting your elected officials. Below are some points and/or ideas that can be used to communicate the positive effect the Comprehensive Trails Plan will have on the Cedar Rapids community.
The current trail system has many well-kept and maintained trails. However, the trails are not well connected to each other and in some cases, not well connected to anything or anyplace. One of the key strategies of the plan is to create a trails network accessible within ten minutes walking time of every household in Cedar Rapids (Comprehensive Trails Plan). The plan includes 10 recommendations that are necessary in moving trail development forward:
1. Create a staff level position to be manager of bicycle, pedestrian and ADA facilities for implementing the Cedar Rapids Comprehensive Trails Plan.
2. Officially adopt the “Cedar Trails” brand or developed alternate “brand” for the Primary Connectivity Network.
3. Adopt, utilize and update the Cedar Trail Segment Schedules (pages 27-112) as working documents.
4. Create preliminary plans and detailed cost opinions for the priority trail segments in the Phase 1 plan.
5. Adopt a development philosophy consistent with the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation EquityAct: A Legacy for Users (SA FETEA-LU) and the current transportation legislation. This means that all public streets are envisioned to be “complete streets.”
6. Dedicate a consistent allocation to the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for multi-modal connectivity. Protectively pursue grant opportunities.
7. Maintenance - Establish a policy of best management practices and consistent funding sufficient for long term maintenance.
8. Adopt design guidelines for the development of bicycle and multi-use facilities.
9. Dedicate trail or right-of-way easements along Primary Connectivity Network routes.
10. Incorporate projects into the current CIP.
To view the full report, please visit: http://www.shive-hattery.info/CRTrails/pdf/CRCTPFinal010612.pdf.
There are many reasons why now is the time to move forward with the Comprehensive Trails Plan. The report “Active Transportation: Cost-Effective Mobility Improvements—for Everyone” by Rails to Trails Conservancy explains that walking and bicycling transportation projects make the most of every tax dollar spent. “With fewer federal dollars available, these projects can be completed at a low cost, are highly popular and significantly improve mobility (RailstoTrails.org).”
In addition to being cost effective, trails align well with Iowa’s Healthiest State Initiative. Iowa has set a goal to be the healthiest state in the nation. To do this, cities in Iowa are currently organizing plans to create “Blue Zones” in their communities. Cedar Rapids is currently organizing several activities to promote Cedar Rapids as a Blue Zone community. “Rather than asking people to increase their will power, the Blue Zones Community model works to improve environments. Little changes to your home, work, school, social, physical, and policy environments can make healthy choices the easy choices so that well-being improves naturally (BlueZonesProjects.com).”
Other community development experts cite additional reasons to make the move to comprehensive trails and complete streets. Peter Kageyam, speaker and book author of For the Love of Cities, explains that people may complain about poor roads, but fixing the road won't make a citizen love their city more. However, building a trail system will. Providing experiences for citizens will increase their love of their city. Expert urban developer, Jeff Speck explains that complete streets offer more than just transportation modes - complete streets are designed for community member interaction - public spaces for citizens to share. Again, providing experiences for community members to interact, not just transport.
With gas prices on the rise, a near health crisis on the horizon, and a population that is willing to relocate to cities that offer great experiences, now is the time to move foward with the Comprehensive Trails Plan. This is imperative to the economic success of the city of Cedar Rapids and the greater region. Now is the time to act! Please contact your elected officials and ask them to support the Comprehensive Trails Plan. The email addresses for city council officials are:
Ron Corbett, Mayor: ron.corbett@cedar-rapids.org
Don Karr: don.karr@cedar-rapids.org
Chuck Swore: chuck.swore@cedar-rapids.org
Kris Gulick: kris.gulick@cedar-rapids.org
Monica Vernon: monica.vernon@cedar-rapids.org
Pat Shey: pat.shey@cedar-rapids.org
Justin Shields: justin.shields@cedar-rapids.org
Ann Poe: ann.poe@cedar-rapids.org
Scott Olson: scott.olson@cedar-rapids.org