Dubuque Community Planning Assistance Team (CPAT) UpdateMasterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Community Planning Assistance Team (CPAT) Update
DATE: July 2, 2012
Dubuque
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All-America City
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Planning Services Manager Laura Carstens is transmitting an update on Dubuque
County's Community Planning Assistance Team (CPAT) project.
Michael C. Van Milligen
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Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, City Attorney
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Teri Goodmann, Assistant City Manager
Laura Carstens, Planning Services Manager
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: Michael Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Laura Carstens, Planning Services Manager ..
SUBJECT: Community Planning Assistance Team (CPAT) Update
DATE: June 28, 2012
Dubuque
* * * **
All-America City
2007
INTRODUCTION
This memo provides the requested update to the City Council on Dubuque County's Community
Planning Assistance Team (CPAT) project.
DISCUSSION
Dubuque County has been awarded a CPAT project by the American Planning Association
(APA) to help prepare a plan to improve the 26 -mile Heritage Trail to increase connectivity and
accessibility of the trail, promote its sustainability, and extend the recreational and economic
development opportunities to each city in the Consortium. The CPAT process is a pro bono
expert assistance team from the APA that is similar to the Sustainable Design Assessment
Team (SDAT) process of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) that the City of Dubuque
sponsored in 2007. Dubuque County Zoning Administrator Anna O'Shea is the coordinator.
Dubuque County and the Smart Planning Consortium hosted a series of Heritage Trail pre-
planning meetings on June 21, 2012 with Paula Reeves and Ryan Scherzinger who are leaders
of the CPAT that will be coming to Dubuque later this year to prepare a multi -use recreational
trail report for the Heritage Trail. Paula and Ryan met with stakeholders across the county to
get ideas on what the communities want in regard to a Heritage Trail Plan. They also toured the
trail and traveled to the cities along the trail to get an idea of the terrain and current condition of
the trail. Attached is the agenda for the stakeholder meetings held in Dyersville, Asbury and City
of Dubuque with different interest groups.
I received the confirmation of the CPAT meeting time and location very late, so I know it was
difficult for City officials to attend on such short notice. We did have several City staff able to
make the June 21 meeting. I shared the attached handouts on the Tri -State Trail Plan and the
City's bike /hike network at that meeting. On June 22, Anna and I took Paula and Ryan on a tour
of the City's riverfront parks and trail system, historic downtown and Washington, North End and
Point neighborhoods so they could get a sense of the investments, priorities, and future projects
the City has in these areas.
As soon as we can confirm dates I will get them to you and the Leadership Team. I think the
team visit will be the critical time for the input from City officials and staff.
F: \USERS \LCARSTEN\WP \Smart Planning Grant \CPAT update to City Council 062812.doc
CPAT— HERITAGE TRAIL PLAN AGENDA
Thursday, June 21, 2012
7:20 a.m. Pick up Ryan Scherzinger and Paula Reeves at the Holiday Inn Hotel, 450 Main St, Dubuque
8:00 a.m. Meet at the Dyersville Social Club, 625 3rd Ave SE, Dyersville
City of Dyersville, Dyersville Chamber of Commerce, Dyersville Foundation,
City of Cascade and Farley, Bikers, Snowmobilers
9:00 a.m. Start tour of Heritage Trail including connections to cities of Cascade and Farley
12:00 p.m. Lunch at Meadows Golf Course, 6525 Clover Lane, Asbury
12:30 p.m. Meet at Meadows Golf Course, 6525 Clover Lane, Asbury
Cities of Epworth, Peosta and Asbury
County Engineer, County GIS Department; ECIA
Bikers, Snowmobilers
1:30 p.m. Begin 2nd Leg of Heritage Trail Tour
4:30 p.m. Meet at Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce Board Room, 300 Main St, Dubuque
Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce, Dubuque Area Convention and Visitor's Bureau,
Dubuque County Board of Supervisors, City of Dubuque, Greater Dubuque Development
Corporation, ECIA, Bikers and Snowmobilers
5:30 p.m. Dinner in Dubuque
If you have any questions, please contact Anna O'Shea, Dubuque County Zoning Administrator at (563)
589 -7827 or (563) 599 -2260.
2008 Tri -State Area Integrated Walking, Biking and Hiking Network Plan
In 2005 a grassroots community effort gathered to envision the future of the greater Dubuque
area. Through this process the community came up with Envision 2010: Ten Community
Projects by 2010. One of the 10 ideas was an integrated walking, biking, hiking trail system.
The 2008 Tri -State Trail Plan encompasses the Dubuque Metropolitan Area Transportation
Study (DMATS), the tri -state area where Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin meet. DMATS includes
the urbanized areas of Dubuque County, IA; East Dubuque and Jo Daviess County, IL; and
Grant County, WI. View the Plan at http:// www. envision2010. oro/ tri- statetrailvision /plan.html.
Purpose and Implementation
Enhance Quality of Life:
• Complete Streets for sustainable community development
• Improve individual health & wellness though increased walking & biking
Provide Needed Facilities and Services:
• Network connecting neighborhoods, employers, schools, parks, retail
• Support facilities (bike racks, benches, water fountains)
Set New Priorities:
• Based on safety, connectivity, & network needs
Improve Safety:
• Reduce accidents & collisions
• Address constraints & gaps
Maximize Funding Sources:
• Provide justification to make projects competitive
Goals
Goal 1: Create an integrated trail system throughout the Tri -State Metropolitan Area to
encourage: recreation, wellness, alternative transportation, energy conservation, heritage
tourism, environmental education and air quality.
Goal 2: Provide Connections to regional, state and national trail systems, including the
Mississippi River Trail (MRT).
Goal 3: Connect all of the trail systems to the Port of Dubuque River Walk, Heritage Trail, E.B.
Lyons and Mines of Spain.
Goal 4: Provide connections from neighborhoods to schools,
parks and other points of interest.
Goal 5: Develop safe, paved trails, with a corresponding
website and maps, plus restrooms, benches and bike racks.
Goal 6: Advocate for adoption of "Complete Streets" policies
by cities and counties in the Tri -State Metropolitan Area.
2008 Tri -State Trail Plan: Existing, Planned & Proposed Trails
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Dubuque Area Bike /Hike Trail System
The City of Dubuque is rich in historic and cultural resources, in our neighborhoods, in the
downtown and along the Mississippi River at the juncture of Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin. Steep
hills are a major consideration in biking and walking in this river community, but they also offer
dramatic views and vistas. We recognize that trails are important to a sustainable community
that values environmental integrity, economic prosperity, and social /cultural vibrancy.
Since the early 1990s, the City has actively planned for a
comprehensive bike /hike network to provide multi -modal
transportation for the Tri -State area. Since 1996, with
adoption of the Dubuque Heritage Trail Master Plan, the
City has invested millions of dollars to create an 18-
mile network of on- street routes and off -road trails with
connections to parks and the Mississippi Riverfront,
through the community's oldest neighborhoods and the
downtown. In 2010, Dubuque completed a bilingual trail
signage project, one of the first in Iowa and the metro area,
with wayfinding kiosks, trailblazer signs, and trail system
brochures in English and Spanish.
The Heritage Trail, a 26 -mile limestone trail from Dubuque to Dyersville, and the City of
Dubuque's trail system soon will be connected with a pedestrian overpass over U.S. 52.
Portions of the Heritage Trail and Dubuque's trail system are designated as the Mississippi
River Trail (MRT) through Iowa, a 2,000 -mile trail network through 10 states along the River.
The major ongoing new trail project in Dubuque is the continued extension of the Iowa 32
(Northwest Arterial) Bike /Hike Trail. This trail provides an important and safe connection for
bike and pedestrian traffic between the Heritage Trail and the west side of Dubuque -- the city's
fastest growing shopping, employment and residential area. Approximately 4 miles are built.
Dubuque was the first city in the metro area to adopt
the 2008 Tri -State Area Trail Plan supporting a
bike /hike network to encourage recreation and wellness,
provide safe routes to school, and promote alternative
modes of transportation to help reduce air pollution and
traffic congestion. The City of Dubuque has 18 miles of
existing bike routes, with 70 miles of trails planned.
A Complete Streets policy was adopted for the Dubuque
metro area in 2010. The City of Dubuque was the first
city in the metro area to adopt a Complete Streets Policy in 2011. Dubuque received
honorable mention as a Bicycle Friendly Community from the American League of Bicyclists in
2011. With a $5.6 million TIGER grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation, the City
developed a Complete Streets model for sustainability in the Dubuque Millwork District in 2012.
The City has a long- standing commitment to a trail network that is free and accessible to all
segments of the general population, including minorities, the elderly, and persons with
disabilities. City bike /hike trail projects comply with ADA and AASHTO guidelines.
From 1995 to 2011, Dubuque spent $8,066,529 on plans, designs, engineering, and
construction of a trail network in the community, using $4,652,236 in City funds, $3,413,893
in state and federal grant funds, and $225,000 in private donations. Another $1.1 million in
grants will leverage $6.5 million in local funds for the Bee Branch Creek MRT Route in 2013.
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