Please help us record trail usage numbers
LCTA has installed counters at 12 locations along many trails in Linn County. Each counter consists of two posts located on opposite sides of the trail painted either blue, brown or white. We record the data from the trail counters, reduce the counts to daily and average weekly usage and publish the data on the LCTA web. See linncountytrails.org/maps/trail-usage/.
We rely on trail users like you to read the counters and send us the counts. Simply record date, time, location, and count (6 digit number at the top of one of the posts) and send it to [email protected]. We are now putting names of each trail counter location on the counter posts along with the post location number. You can either specify the location with either the name or number. We have prepared a business card with the reporting information and the locations of each of the 12 counters. You can pick up a business card at the LCTA booth at the Cedar Rapids or Marion Farmers Markets.
If you have a smart phone, you can send the count while on the trail by entering the data on the LCTA webpage: linncountytrails.org/maps/trail-usage/count/.
The counters are located at the following locations:
1 * CVNT * Center Point
2 * CVNT * Lafayette
3 * CVNT * County Home Rd
4 * CVNT * Boyson Rd
5 * CRT * McCloud Run
6 * CRT * Sokol Park
7 * Cedar Lake Trail
8 * Boyson Trail * Marion
9 * S&F * East Post Rd
10 * S&F * Cole St
11 * Hoover Trail * Wright Bros Blvd
12 * Lindale Trail * C Ave NE
Note: Two trail users have recently made the Grand Tour of all 12 counters in one day and sent us the counts (presumably on a bicycle). Are you up to the challenge? It may be easier for you to collect all counts into one email.
Area trails are closed due to flooding.
The City of Cedar Rapids has closed the Cedar River Trail at two locations due to flooding. The trail is closed under the 8th Ave SE Bridge (above left). The Cedar River Trail is also closed along A St SW between 15th Ave SW and the landfill due to flood protection measures and flooding (above right). The Sac and Fox Trail near the Indian Creek Nature Center is closed due the high river level. Part of the Prairie Park Fishery Trail is also closed. The Ellis Trail is closed near Ellis Park and Manhattan Park as result of water over the trail. In addition, the City of Marion has closed a section of the Boyson Trail near Donnelly Park due to high water on Indian Creek. All closures are marked with signs and barricades with no designated detours.
For your safety, please use caution and remember the following:
• Avoid riding or walking through water that covers an entire section of trail.
• When sections of trail are closed due to flooding, obey all barricades and signage. Refrain from moving and/or going around barricades.
• Slow down when standing water, mud and/or debris are found on the trail after the water recedes.
• Linn County has several other trail opportunities to explore while these trail sections are closed.
These sections of trail could reopen this weekend as the river level falls below flood stage.
New logo survey
We have been working on updating our logo, and we would love to hear what you have to say about some of the new options. Please take the survey and let us know what you think:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/LCTA
Thanks!
Legislative Update - Trail funding in danger
LCTA members, please contact our local State Senators and the Speaker of the House and ask them restore funding to the Joint Senate-House Infrastructure Appropriations Subcommittee for the Eastern Iowa Trail system (Cedar Valley Nature Trail).”
Your message (email or phone) could say:
“Dear Senator/Speaker – As you are aware, the Black Hawk, Johnson and Linn County Conservation Boards had made a request to the Joint Senate-House Infrastructure Appropriations Subcommittee for the Eastern Iowa Trail system (Cedar Valley Nature Trail). The subcommittee included $3 million in their budget allocation for the trail system. I understand that the Senate passed the bill with this funding included. However, we recently learned that the House stripped and removed this trail funding from the bill that passed the House.
This funding is critical to allow us to make key trail connections in the corridor. Please urge your Senate colleagues on the conference committee to support reinstatement of this funding for the Eastern Iowa Trail system. Thank you for your support and any help you are able to provide.”
Contact information for the Linn County Senators is below:
Senator Liz Mathis - [email protected]
Senator Wally Horn - [email protected]
Senator Rob Hogg - [email protected]
Senate Switchboard (515)281-3371
Speaker of the House Kraig Paulsen - [email protected]
Speaker Paulsen's Office:(515)-281-3521
House Switchboard:(515)281-3221
Upcoming Event: Marion Master Trails Plan Open House
The Marion Master Trails Plan Open House will be held this Tuesday, February 25th. This would be a great time to provide feedback on the future of trails for Marion. Here's a link to the event: https://linncountytrails.org/event/marion-master-trails-plan-open-house/
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 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/
Bike Lanes - Rules of the Road
Several LCTA members have asked for a copy of the Rules of the Road display that Ron Griffith used at several recent meetings and at the Meet Me at the Market - Bike Lanes presentation. The presentation was from a Colorado State University publication but is equally applicable to the bike lanes in the Cedar Rapids Metro Area. The PDF document is located at: http://www.stat.colostate.edu/~estep/bike/bikelaws.pdf
Walk with the Mayor to the new amphitheater
Meet Me at the Market at NewBo City Market will have a group walk to the new amphitheater lead by Mayor Ron Corbet this Thursday leaving at 5:45. The amphitheater grounds include a segment of the Ellis Trail that will eventually follow the River on the west side quadrants from Edgewood Road to Sokol Park. The significant increase in trail development funding that will become available over the next five years has been made possible by Mayor Corbet's strong support. Please come, talk to Mayor Corbet and thank him for his strong support for trails in the entire Metro Area.
(In case of rain, Mayor Corbett will move indoors and discuss recent healthy initiatives in Cedar Rapids.)
Introduction to Cedar Rapids Bike Lanes at NewBo City Market on Thursday
Meet Me at the Market in cooperation with Cedar Rapids Bicycle Advisory Committee will feature an Introduction to Cedar Rapids Bike Lanes bike ride and explanation of the new Cedar Rapids Bike lanes. The 2.5 mile ride begins at the NewBo City Market - Meet Me at the Market check-in table, leaving at 5:45pm, 6:00pm and 6:15pm. The rides and presentations will address the responsibilities of motorists and cyclists on the city streets, the meanings of various bicycle signs and painted symbols, and types of bicycle facilities that will be appearing on the Cedar Rapids streets. Helmets are required.