BACKGROUND
The aging of the baby-boomer population, the increase in overall health cost - much driven by obesity, the economic downturn - all resulting in a chorus for a more sustainable life style, have created a new demand for a transportation system that addresses the concerns of pedestrians and bicycles. For decades the transportation dollars from taxpayers has gone to providing roadways designed to accommodate motorized vehicles. Many of the roadways discriminate against other uses.
The last time gas prices had a significant impact on our driving habits, bicycling was largely thought of as a recreational activity and the few accommodations that were constructed were off the road trails.
As the world has become smaller and more of us are moving to urban centers the demand for roadways that support many modes of transportation is increasing. The most obvious and cost effective method is to modify existing roadways and/or construct bike and pedestrian accommodations into new roadways. To that end the Cedar Rapids City Council on (date) by (resolution number) retained the services of Shive-Hattery to develop a Comprehensive Trails Plan. The plan is to create a multi-modal network to connect neighborhoods and other destinations in the city. The plan needs to provide a strategy for pro-active implementation in a logical sequence.
While Cedar Rapids currently has a noteworthy recreational trails systems, Shive-Hattery has been working to develop a comprehensive systems of trails for commuting and accessing life style services. It has been a commonly agreed upon tenet throughout this project that true multi-modal connectivity needs to consider all levels of pedestrian and bicycle transients. While some users and some routes may be primarily recreational in orientation the expressed need is to establish walking and biking as legitimate and equal forms of transportation as motorized vehicles. This means that when we introduce these modes to the current motorized based network of roadways we need to assure that the basic safety and efficiency of the existing transportation network stays intact.
Key strategies of the plan are to create a trails network that is accessible within five minutes of every household in Cedar Rapids. This network will be defined by maps, signage and have a nomenclature assigned to it. Many of the segments of this network will involve the redefinition of existing streets. This redefinition could be as simple as adding the signage and roadway markings. In some cases it may involve surface overlays and upgrades, widening or sidewalk development. The ultimate goal of the Primary Connectivity Network is to increase walking and biking to school, shopping, church and other community activities. It is time to make non-motorized transportation safe and convenient.
It is the intent of Shive-Hattery and the Trails Steering Committee to implement policy in regards to community design during the development of the Cedar Rapids Comprehensive Trails Plan. This process will not only identify a multimodal network it will provide bus access, work place secure bicycle parking, shower facilities and other amenities designed to promote non-motorized transportation.
Shive-Hattery has a commitment to working in alliance with a variety of agencies to implement the Cedar Rapids Comprehensive Trails Plan. The Trails Steering Committee is comprised of individuals from Linn Area Mountain Bike Association (LAMBA), Rockwell Collins Commuters Club, Cedar Rapids Bicycle Ambassadors Group, Cedar Rapids Community School District Safe Routes to School, Corridor Metropolitan Planning Organization, Cedar Valley Running Association, City of Cedar Rapids, Healthy Linn Care Network, City of Marion, Linn County Trail Association, Coe College, and representatives of Kaizen Event/Neighborhood Planning Sessions.
Collaboration is the key to the success of the Cedar Rapids Comprehensive Trails Plan.