2020thth National Trails Symposium National Trails Symposium

The Long and Short of The Long and Short of Trail MaintenanceTrail Maintenance

Bike TrailBike Trail Operations and Maintenance Operations and Maintenance

Maintenance PremiseMaintenance Premise

Good maintenance begins with good Good maintenance begins with good design.design.

Drainage is the most critical element in the Drainage is the most critical element in the life of your surface.life of your surface.

With proper maintenance you can extend With proper maintenance you can extend the life of your surface beyond the the life of your surface beyond the averages.averages.

Operations ManualOperations Manual

WhatWhat

WhenWhen

HowHow

How oftenHow often

WhoWho

Maintenance CostsMaintenance Costs

$500 - $5,000 per mile per year$500 - $5,000 per mile per year

FactorsFactors– Level of careLevel of care– Site of trailSite of trail– Surface of trailSurface of trail

Columbia, Missouri Columbia, Missouri Trail Maintenance CostsTrail Maintenance Costs

Presentation by Steve Saitta and Mike Snyder in Presentation by Steve Saitta and Mike Snyder in October 2010 American Trails Newsletter:October 2010 American Trails Newsletter:

ConcreteConcrete $2,980/mile$2,980/mile

AsphaltAsphalt 8,672/mile 8,672/mile

Aggregate (in non-washout area)Aggregate (in non-washout area) 5,280/mile 5,280/mile

Aggregate (in washout area)Aggregate (in washout area) 16, 904/mile16, 904/mile

Trail SurfacesTrail Surfaces

AggregateAggregate

ConcreteConcrete

AsphaltAsphalt

Types of CareTypes of Care

Routine MaintenanceRoutine Maintenance

Periodic MaintenancePeriodic Maintenance

Long Term CareLong Term Care

Routine MaintenanceRoutine Maintenance

MowingMowingCleaningCleaning

TrimmingTrimming

Vandalism repairVandalism repair

Litter controlLitter control

Routine MaintenanceRoutine Maintenance

MowingMowing

CleaningCleaningTrimmingTrimming

Vandalism repairVandalism repair

Litter controlLitter control

Blower vs. Sweeper vs. VacuumBlower vs. Sweeper vs. Vacuum

Vacuum creates major dust in dry Vacuum creates major dust in dry

weatherweather

Low profile makes vacuum hard toLow profile makes vacuum hard to

get over bollardsget over bollards

Sweeper only gets debris off Sweeper only gets debris off

immediate trail surfaceimmediate trail surface

Leaves piles where sweeper stopsLeaves piles where sweeper stops

Blower gets clippings, leaves, twigs,Blower gets clippings, leaves, twigs,

rocks and debris way off of trailrocks and debris way off of trail

Routine MaintenanceRoutine Maintenance

MowingMowing

CleaningCleaning

TrimmingTrimmingVandalism repairVandalism repair

Litter controlLitter control

Routine MaintenanceRoutine Maintenance

MowingMowing

CleaningCleaning

TrimmingTrimming

Vandalism repairVandalism repair

Litter controlLitter control

Periodic Periodic MaintenanceMaintenance – all Surfaces – all Surfaces

Clearance pruning – maintain 3’ Clearance pruning – maintain 3’

setbacksetback

Tree trimming- maintain 12’ heightTree trimming- maintain 12’ height

clearanceclearance

Brush cutback – keep shrubs fromBrush cutback – keep shrubs from

encroaching into bermencroaching into berm

Periodic Maintenance - Aggregate TrailsPeriodic Maintenance - Aggregate Trails

Control encroaching vegetationControl encroaching vegetation

Scarify areas to be correctedScarify areas to be corrected

Add aggregate if neededAdd aggregate if needed

Grade and compactGrade and compact

Periodic Maintenance - Concrete TrailsPeriodic Maintenance - Concrete Trails

EdgingEdging

Seal CracksSeal Cracks

Re-stripe annually (if using paint)Re-stripe annually (if using paint)

Periodic Maintenance – Asphalt TrailsPeriodic Maintenance – Asphalt Trails

Edge pavement to prevent vegetation Edge pavement to prevent vegetation encroachment.encroachment.

Restripe annually (if using paintRestripe annually (if using paint))

Long Term MaintenanceLong Term Maintenancefor asphalt surfacesfor asphalt surfaces

Crack sealingCrack sealing

Seal CoatingSeal Coating

Pavement RepairPavement Repair

Asphalt Maintenance Asphalt Maintenance StrategyStrategy

Retard progressive failureRetard progressive failure

Arrest light deteriorationArrest light deterioration

Reduce need for reactive Reduce need for reactive maintenancemaintenance

Crack SealingCrack Sealing

Prevents debris build-up in cracks.Prevents debris build-up in cracks.

Prevents water from entering base Prevents water from entering base

and sub-base. and sub-base.

Prevents continued deterioration.Prevents continued deterioration.

Perform every 2 years.Perform every 2 years.

Recommend use of a rubberized sealant.Recommend use of a rubberized sealant.

Crack SealingCrack Sealing

Purpose of Seal CoatingPurpose of Seal Coating

Arrest deteriorationArrest deterioration

Prevent water infiltrationPrevent water infiltration

Restore oils to upper surfaceRestore oils to upper surface

Prevent loss of finesPrevent loss of fines

Seal Coat ProductsSeal Coat Products

ReclamiteReclamiteGSB 88GSB 88Agricultural oil based sealersAgricultural oil based sealers

ReplayReplayBio-Re-StorBio-Re-Stor

Do Not Use Coal Tar based ProductsDo Not Use Coal Tar based Products

– Cost - $4,500 – 5,000/mileCost - $4,500 – 5,000/mile

ReclamiteReclamite

Chemical composition productChemical composition product

Goes on nearly clearGoes on nearly clear

Requires 24-hour penetration timeRequires 24-hour penetration time

Requires sand coat to absorb excessRequires sand coat to absorb excess

Sand must be swept off before re-openSand must be swept off before re-open

Questions on friction co-efficientQuestions on friction co-efficient

GSB - 88GSB - 88

Asphalt emulsionAsphalt emulsion

Goes on blackGoes on black

Requires masking or re-stripingRequires masking or re-striping

Dries 1- 2 hoursDries 1- 2 hours

Adds silica sand to fill fines, increase Adds silica sand to fill fines, increase frictionfriction

Agricultural OilsAgricultural Oils

Agricultural base, not AsphaltAgricultural base, not Asphalt

Green productGreen product

Restores oils to upper 3/8” of asphalt surfaceRestores oils to upper 3/8” of asphalt surface

Prevents loss of finesPrevents loss of fines

Goes on virtually clear; no need for re-stripingGoes on virtually clear; no need for re-striping

Maintains co-efficiency of frictionMaintains co-efficiency of friction

Replay ApplicatorsReplay Applicators

Replay ApplicationReplay Application

Pavement Repair - AggregatePavement Repair - Aggregate

Correct underlying IssuesCorrect underlying Issues

Use ripper tines to penetrate into Use ripper tines to penetrate into

existing surfaceexisting surface

Add new aggregate to match Add new aggregate to match

existingexisting

Grade to blend into existing surfacesGrade to blend into existing surfaces

Compact with vibratory rollerCompact with vibratory roller

Pavement Repair - ConcretePavement Repair - Concrete

Saw-cut all jointsSaw-cut all joints

Make sure drainage can occurMake sure drainage can occur

Install porous stone baseInstall porous stone base

Form new concrete to match existingForm new concrete to match existing

Finish surface to match existingFinish surface to match existing

Provide for expansion of new concreteProvide for expansion of new concrete

Pavement Repair - AsphaltPavement Repair - Asphalt

Avoid cuts at all costsAvoid cuts at all costs Develop tight specifications for repairDevelop tight specifications for repair Saw-cut all edgesSaw-cut all edges Properly compact all fillsProperly compact all fills

Specify compaction rates for fill and asphaltSpecify compaction rates for fill and asphalt Apply AC-20 to sides of cutsApply AC-20 to sides of cuts Consider re-heating techniquesConsider re-heating techniques

Asphalt Surfacing AlternativesAsphalt Surfacing Alternatives

Slurry sealSlurry seal

Skim coatsSkim coats

Micro-surfacingMicro-surfacing

Chip and sealChip and seal

Asphalt Re-surfacingAsphalt Re-surfacing

Consider grinding and repavingConsider grinding and repaving

May be more cost effectiveMay be more cost effective

Requires no re-bermingRequires no re-berming

Requires no re-seedingRequires no re-seeding

Always add at least a 1 ¼” course ofAlways add at least a 1 ¼” course of

asphaltasphalt

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Trail SolutionsTrail Solutions

Jim SchneiderJim Schneiderwww.trail-works.comwww.trail-works.com3904 Rockfield Dr.3904 Rockfield Dr.Beavercreek, OH 45430Beavercreek, OH 45430Ph (937) 750-1109Ph (937) 750-1109Fax (937) 320-1109Fax (937) 320-1109Jim@trail-works.comJim@trail-works.com