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Mississippi Rvr Trail Pl IDOTMEMORANDUM November 10, 2003 TO: FROM: SUBJECT: Michael C. Van Mi[ligen, City Manager Laura Carstens, Planning Services Manager Comments on Iowa's Mississippi River Trail Plan The City has received the enclosed letter from the Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT) requesting comments on Iowa's Mississippi River Trail Plan. Iowa's Mississippi River Trail (MRT) is part of a ten-state initiative to develop a continuous bicycle trail along the Mississippi River from its headwaters in Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico. A brochure describing the main points of the MRT plan is enclosed. A copy of the plan itself is on file in the City Clerk's Office. The portion of the Mississippi River Trail that runs through the City of Dubuque is the Hedtage Trail Riverfront System that the City has developed with state and federal grants. A map of the MRT route through the City of Dubuque and Dubuque County is enclosed. City staff has reviewed the plan and attended an IDOT presentation on the MRT plan. City staff has the following comments: The plan refers to off-road trails, which the City of Dubuque has developed along the Hedtage Trail Riverfront System. The plan also refers to bike lanes, which the City's trail system does not have. Bike lanes are more typical along the rural cross-sections of County roads. The City's Heritage Trail Riverfront System includes about 10.5 miles of on-street signed routes. This type of bike trail is not discussed in the plan, but should be to acknowledge the use of on-street signed routes in urban areas. The plan states that bike lanes will be paved with asphalt. While asphalt is a preferred surface over granular trails, the use of concrete for bike lanes should also be allowed. The use of asphalt or concrete should be the choice of local governments. ¸3. Leisure Services Manager Gil Spence has been attending the regional meetings on Iowa's Mississippi River Trail, and he should continue to be kept up-to-date on the development of this trail. I recommend that the City Council authorize the Mayor to sign the enclo~d~l,~,~ IDOT providing these comments on Iowa's Mississippi River Trail Plan. Enclosures cc Gil Spence, Leisure Services Manager, with enclosures Office of the Mayor and City Council City Hall, 50 West 13th Street Dubuque, Iowa 52001-4864 November 10, 2003 Fred Dean District 6 Highway Division Iowa Department of Transportation PO. Box 2646 Davenport, IA 52809 Dear Mr; Dean, The City has reviewed Iowa's Mississippi River Trail Plan. The portion of the trail that runs through the City of Dubuque is the Heritage Trail Riverfront System. The City has the following comments on the plan: The plan refers to off-read trails, which the City of Dubuque has developed along the Heritage Trail Riverfront System. The plan also refers to bike lanes, which the City's trail system does not have. Bike lanes are more typical along the rural cross-sections of County roads. The City's Heritage Trail Riverfront System includes about 10.5 miles of on-street signed routes. This type of bike trail is not discussed in the plan, but should be to acknowledge the use of on-street signed routes in urban areas. The plan states that bike lanes will be paved with asphalt. VVhile asphalt is a preferred surface over granular trails, the use of concrete for bike lanes should also be allowed. The use of asphalt or concrete should be the choice of local governments. Leisure Services Manager Gil Spence has been attending the regional meetings on Iowa's Mississippi River Trail, and he should continue to be kept up-to-date on the development of this trail. Thank you in advance for your cooperation. Sincerely, Terrance M. Duggan Mayor cc Michael Van Milligen, City Manager Gil Spence, Leisure Services Manager Laura Carstens, Planning Services Manager Service People Integrity Responsibility Innovation Teamwork Iowa Department of Transportation P.O. Box 2646, Davenport, IA 52809 563-391-4643 Fax: 563-388-9266 Email: Frederick. Dean~dot. state.ia.us September 26, 2003 Ref. No. 763, Mississippi River Trail The Honorable Terrance M. Duggan Mayor of Dubuque 50 West 13th Street Dubuque, IA 520014864 Dear Mayor Duggan: Enclosed with this letter is a copy of Iowa's Mississippi River Trail (MRT) Plan: This plan was prepared at the direction of the department by the Center for Transportation Research and Education, Iowa State University. My purpose in writing you is to better acquaint you with the plan and the Mississippi River Trail initiative. I would like to encourage you to review the plan with appropriate city staff, as well as others in the community interested in the trail's development. There is presently a lO state initiative underway to develop a continuous trail along the Mississippi River fi.om its headwaters in Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico. The desired outcome is for the trail to be situated as close to the river as possible. As such, the trail when fully developed in the future would become a system of interconnected trails. This accomplishment will require the cooperation of municipal, county and state governments, and various trail operators along the proposed route. The Wail will include both on and off-road segments in order to serve a diverse range of users fi.om the expert rider to families with children. The enclosed plan presents a recommended route through Iowa. As the route undergoes further evaluation, changes are anticipated to occur, including multiple routes in selected areas. Furthermore, the majority of the route as presently proposed is on-road versus off-road. As you can see, there are route segments that would use the city's trail system. The department has been visiting with the Natural Heritage Foundation, Metropolitan Planning Organizations, Regional Planning Affiliations, and others to identify how we can work together to develop the MRT in Iowa. We will also be holding some regional meetings with interested parties to discuss this project. I welcome your thoughts, concerns, etc. in regards to the plan and the MRT initiative overall. If you would like to discuss this in more detail, I would be happy to meet with you. Sincerely, Fred Dean District 6 Highway Division FWD:fwd Enclosures m IOWA'S MISSISSIPPI RIVER TRAIL OUR NATION'S MISSISSIPPI RIVER TRAIL The Mississippi River Trail (MRT) is a world-class bicycle trail that will follow the Mississippi River all the way from its headwaters in Minnesote to the Gulf of Mexico. The trail is partially completed; much of it is still in the planning and development stages. When complete, the MRT will link over 2,000 miles of recreational trails through 10 states, including 280 miles in Iowa. Designeted as a National Millennium Trail, the Mississippi River Trail will preserve precious natural environments elong the river, stimulate economic growth in dver communities, and provide bicyclists eccess to a variety of landscapes, history, and culture. The Iowa Department of Transportation has commissioned the Center for Transportation Research and Education at Iowa State University to develop a plan for a safe, economically beneficial, end scenic MRT route through Iowa. BENEFITS OF THE MRT IN IOWA Safety Benefits lowe's Mississippi River Trail will create safe new routes for bicycles and improve safety on existing routes for both bicycles and motor vehicles. The MRT will add bicycle lanes to many roadways and thereby remove cyclists from the same travel path as automobiles and trucks. The additional paved shoulder width required for bicycle lanes has also been shown to reduce motor vehicle crashes. Top: Bicyclists on the rJverfront. Bot[om: View of the Mississippi River from Fire Point. Economic Benefits The MRT will also stimulate tourism all along Iowa's eastern border, bdnging approximately 20 million additional dollars to the state's economy each yeah The trail construction plan is designed to be as cost efficient as possible while maintaining safety as the first priority. Recreational Benefits Iowa's Mississippi River Trail will be located as close to the Mississippi River as is practical, never more than 10 miles away, and will provide convenient access to dyer views, area attractions, and connections to trails in all adjacent states. The MRT will encourage exercise, sight-seeing, and appreciation of Iowa's natural, historic, and cultural riches along the Mississippi River. IOWA'S UNIQUE MRT PLAN In Iowa, in-depth analysis has been used to determine the best route for the bike trail and a strategic plan for implementation. THE ROUTE Iowa's Mississippi River Trail is envisioned to include both off-road bicycle trails and clearly marked bicycle lanes on roadway shoulders. On-Road Segments On-road bicycle lanes are generally less costly than off-road bicycle trails. Iowa's MRT will include 255 total miles of bicycle hanes on roadway shoulders, some of which are already existing or planned. An analysis has determined which roadways along the route are suitable for the addition of bicycle lanes. Eastern Iowa is home to the Great River Road, a National Scenic Byway that follows the Mississippi River from border to border. This and other roadways, with minor improvements, can be made to safely and affordably accommodate bicycles. About 205 miles of paved shoulders will need to be constructed for new MRT bicycle lanes. All bicycle lanes will be four to six feet wide and paved with asphalt, which is generally less expensive than concrete. In addition, about two miles of bridges may need to be redecked in order to accommodate bicycle lanes. The total estimated cost associated with on-road bicycle lanes is $25.3 million. Off-Road Segments iowa's MRT will incorporate already existing or planned off-road bike trails, including the Heritage Trail in Dubuque, the RiverWay Trails in the Quad Cities, and many others. Only an additional nine miles of new off-road trails will need to be constructed where roadways were found to be unsuitable for bicycle lanes. The MRT's off-road bike trails will be 10 feet wide to accommodate both bicyclists and pedestrians. The total estimated cost of paving new bicycle trails with asphalt is $920,000. Mississippi River IMPLEMENTATION Strategic Phases Iowa's Mississippi River Trail will be constructed, marked with MRT signs, and publicized in phases, with the order generally determined by the segments' capability to be quickly and affordably completed. Because the first MRT segments will have a great impact on public interest end support, three initial segments have been chosen for their ability to extend existing trails in the shortest time possible. By completing these segments for which federal funding will be sought, a network of about 40 miles of bicycle facilities will be created in Allamakee, Scott, and Muscatine Counties. These three segments will run directly along the dver and have fantastic views. Cooperative Effort Within Iowa, the MRT is a cooperative effort of all the cities and counties along the route, area councils of government, municipal and regional planning organizations, local and regional organizations for economic development, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the lows Natural Heritage Foundation, the Iowa Department of Transportation, MRT, Inc. (the trail's national nonprofit organization), and many other organizations and individusIs. Of the 280 miles of MRT in Iowa, the state of Iowa will be responsible for about 100 miles, counties will be responsible for about 125 miles, and municipalities will be responsible for the remainder, just over 50 miles. Biking and recreational organizations and area businesses are expected to derive great benefits from the trail system and are invited to contribute to the implementation of the plan. Total Cost The total cost of the 280-mile MRT in Iowa is estimated to be between 25 and 32 million dollars, depending on structural accommodations and site characteristics. Iowa's Mississippi River Trail will be funded through a vadety of existing and new local, state, and federal sources. WHAT TO SEE ON THE MRT Throughout history, the Mississippi River has served as an impodant passageway, carrying native peoples, explorers, fur traders, steamboats, barges, and much more. The river has also made its way into the hearts and imaginations of Americans through its great power and beauly. According to Mark Twain, the dyer "has a new story to tell every day." Iowa's port/on of the MRT offers the following attractions: parks and wildlife areas with breath- taking views of the Mississippi River national treasures such as Effigy Mounds National Monument and Keokuk National Cemetery locks, dams, ports, and riverboat cruises museums and histodc neighbor- hoods such as Snake Alley in Burlington art galleries and antique shops arboretums and botanical gardens casinos, sporting events, and entertainment restaurants and lodging Kathy Ridnour BicycIe and Pedestrian Transpodation Planner O@ce of Systems Planning iowa Depari~nent of Transpodation k~thy, ddnour @ dot.state.ia.us David Plazak Associate Director for Policy Center for Transportation Research and Education Iowa State Universib/ 515-296-0814 dplazak@iastate.edu 3-19