Southern Lakes Trailways

May 20, 2009

Meeting Summary

Agenda:

1. Trailway Development Process

2. Overview of major trail connections and local routes

3. EARLY Advocacy and Education

4. Next Meeting, September 23, 2009 @ Fenton Township Hall

Prioritize Trail Routes

Establish Work Groups

Goals and Work Plans[I1]

Trailway Development Process

Created by Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance

www.michigantrails.org

Overview

· Determine a Trail Route

· Create a Vision

· Advocacy

· Acquisition

· Development

Trail Route

· Existing Network – Identified at last meeting

· Destinations – Identified at last meeting

· Master Plans – trail data from master plans was compiled by the Genesee County Metropolitan Planning Commission and used as basis for the Genesee County Regional Trail Plan

· Property Owners – need to educate and advocate

· Obstacles – need to identify once trails are prioritized

Once Route Identified

· Check Ownership – available from county parcel data

· Acquisition steps vary depending on owner – most trail routes are along the road right of way, owned by the Genesee County Road Commission or are private property

· Develop Map – map developed

· Inventory and photograph – task of work groups to be formed at the September meeting

Vision

· Create a 1-2 page fact sheet about the trail – helps promote and educate about the project to residents and potential funders

Identify Stakeholders

· Trail users

· Businesses

· Schools

· Landowners

Public Involvement[I2]

· Awareness Building

· Working with Landowners

· Consultants

Design and Construction

Trail Routes – Major Connections & Local Routes

The group reviewed maps of the major and local trail routes in the Southern Lakes area and made recommendations to:

Change the Fenton to Flint Route to take Torrey Road north to Twelfth Street, instead of Fenton Road

Add a local route around Lobdell Lake on Bennett Lake Road

Important Landmarks / Destinations (Identified at last meeting)

Schools
Parking
Neighborhoods
Wetlands and Natural areas
Cafés
Ice Cream shops
Playgrounds
Sports Fields
Small Towns
Parks

Regional Connectors

Silver Lake Road
Owen Road
Torrey or Fenton Road
Seymour Road
Jennings Road

Local Routes

§ Around Lake Fenton [Torrey Road – Wiggins Road – N Long Lake Road – Fenton Road – S Long Lake Road]

§ Lake Fenton to Loon, Squaw, Ponemah and Silver Lakes “Lakes Route” [Torrey Road – Lahring Road west – Jennings Road south – Rolston Rd west – Ripley Road south – Silver Lake Rd east – North Road]

§ South Linden Circles [Linden Road south – Whittaker Rd south – Owen west – Linden north] [Owen Road west – Linden Rd south – Bennet Lake Rd east – White Lake Rd east – Old US 23 north]

Major Connections

§ Fenton to Holly & 7 Lakes State Park [Leroy St north – Dauner Road east OR Petts Road east – Eddy Lake Road]

§ Fenton To Linden [Owen Road west – Linden Road north – Silver Lake Road east – Leroy St south]

§ Linden to Argentine [Silver Lake Road west]

§ Fenton to Flint [Fenton Road north]

§ Argentine to Swartz Creek [Seymour Road north]

§ Fenton to Grand Blanc [Leroy St north – Grand Blanc Road east]

§ Gaines to Swartz Creek [Duffield Road north – Grand Blanc Road east – Seymour Road north]

§ Swartz Creek to Durand [Seymour north – Miller Rd west – Lansing Rd west – Oak St south]

Advocacy & Education

HOW?

Local newsletters, websites, facebook, SAGE website

Informal neighborhood surveys and outreach

Presentations to local governments

Share the Road Signage – interim step to get motorists more comfortable seeing bikes on the roadways, implies that bikes belong on the road too.

WHERE?

Target bike shops – Cycle-fit, Assenmacher, bike clubs

Real estate agents

Chambers of Commerce

Libraries

TOOLS NEEDED BY GROUP

Handouts

· 10 misconceptions about trails: property values, health benefits, economic benefits, etc

Provide via Mail and Email

· Flyers for meetings – group can pass out to neighbors ahead of time

· Talking points

· County Trail Plan – online at http://www.co.genesee.mi.us/gcmpc-plan/trails.htm

Other Resources

· Friends of the Flint River Trail will help others organize bike rides in their communities; http://edtech.mcc.edu/ffrt/

· Safe and Active Genesee for Everyone (SAGE); http://www.crim.org/activeliving/Sage/

Future Training

· Information Session on Funding