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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 bierd All-America City 1 2007 Planning Services Manager Laura Carstens is transmitting an update on Dubuque County's Community Planning Assistance Team (CPAT) project. Michael C. Van Milligen MCVM:jh 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 52 Till 1 Luxemburg Holy Cross Balltown Sherrill Rickardsville Bankston Graf • • • a • \ f1 As-.- i— Dubuque r A- y --1-r .f- ••• Centralia,' HERITAGE Legend • Heritage Trail Existing Trails MRT - - -- Planned Trails • • • Proposed Trails Highways Incorporated Places DMATS • • Epworth Peosta DUBUQUE '' OU NTY • • • -. • •• • • ° .a is East Dubuque • • St. Donatus 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. J // Iowa 32 Bike -Hike Trail Extension Existing Trails Proposed Trails Mississippi River Trail Schools Parks Dubuque Asbury Sageville cc —1,. y".ERD "' L PENNSYLVANIA VE -o KENNEDY RD e "6 a• 0 J"' • F L • ci„:` 1.4... J, • 0,1' ♦• a • e''' Milk • • �T " Q. • Re' �� • • • •1 r N O .oz 5 PENNSYLVANIA A 0 DODG cFO�9 cf os • • • • • • • ▪ • 1