SMART Southeast Minnesota Association of Regional Trails

“Regional Trails in Southeastern Minnesota” MnDOT District 6

J2G Transportation. Wednesday, September 9 , 2015

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Regional Trails in SE Minnesota Mission Statement

• “The SMART Organization was created by DNR & MnDOT to facilitate the use and promote the development of a trail system throughout southeastern Minnesota’s unique landscape of rivers, lakes, prairies, bluffs, forests, and farmlands. In addition with a regional trail system will allow communities to develop and expand their tourism opportunities to support local businesses.”

• Andru Peters, testifying on SF 1550 state trail bill, March 19, 2015

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Regional Trails in SE Minnesota

Executive Committee President Andru Peters, Lake City (Wabasha County)

Vice President Susie Peterson, Albert Lea, (Freeborn County)

Treasurer Dick Leonard, Manorville, (Dodge County)

Secretary Carlos Espinosa, Winona, (Winona County)

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SMART ADVOCACY

June 10, 2014 - Support Testify for the organization of the Steele County RRA

March 19, 2015 – Testify at MN Senate Hearing on SF 1550, establishing the Mississippi Blufflands Trail (Wabasha & Goodhue County)

May 26, 2015 – SMART Presentation to the Fillmore County EDA on Regional Trails

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SMART ADVOCACY

August 4, 2015 – SMART Presentation to the Wabasha County RRA on Regional Trails

August 5, 2015 – SMART Presentation to the Medford, MN Park Board on Regional Trails

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Regional Trails in SE Minnesota (c 2007)

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Regional Trails in SE Minnesota State Trails

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Regional Trails in SE Minnesota State Trails in District 6

MN ST 85.015 State Trails

1. Subd 4. Douglas Trail (Olmsted, Wabasha, Goodhue County)

2. Subd 7 Blufflands Trail (So.) (Fillmore, Olmsted, Winona, Houston County)

3. Subd 8a Mill Towns Trail (Rice, Dakota, Goodhue County)

4. Subd 15 Goodhue Pioneer Trail (Goodhue County)

5. Subd 17 Shooting Star Trail (Mower County)

6. Subd 18 Prairie Wildflower Trail (Mower, Dodge, Steele, Rice County)

7. Subd 19 Blazing Star Trail (Freeborn, Mower County)

8. Subd 20 Stagecoach Trail (Steele, Dodge, Olmsted County)

9. Subd 26 Great River Ridge Trail (Wabasha, Olmsted County)

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Regional Trails in SE Minnesota Current (2015) State (Senate) Trail Legislation

SF 57 (Miller) Blufflands Trail (Fillmore, Olmsted, Winona, Houston County)

SF 1117 (Schmit) Goodhue Pioneer Trail (Goodhue County)

SF 1550 (Schmit) Mississippi Blufflands Trail (No.) (Goodhue, Wabasha County)

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Regional Trails in SE Minnesota Current (2015) State (House) Trail Legislation

• HF 49 (Davids) Blufflands Trails (Fillmore, Olmsted, Winona, Houston County

• HF 1741 (Kelly) Goodhue Pioneer Trail (Goodhue County)

• HF 1742 (Kelly) Mississippi Blufflands Trail (Goodhue, Wabasha County)

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Regional Trails in SE Minnesota Regional Trails in District 6

• Cannon Valley Regional Trail, Red Wing, Cannon Falls (Goodhue County)

• Root River Trail, Fountain, Lanesboro, Houston (Fillmore, Houston County)

• Stagecoach Trail, Rochester (Olmsted County)

• Shooting Star Trail, Austin, Leroy, Fountain (Mower County)

• Blazing Star Trail, Albert Lea, Austin (Freeborn County)

• Whitewater Park Trail, (Winona County)

• Chester Woods Trail, Rochester (Olmsted County)

• Mill Towns Trail, Faribault, Cannon Falls (Rice, Goodhue County)

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Regional Trails in SE Minnesota MnDOT Roundabout with Trail provision

• Concept for the new Roundabout on US 14 & TH 42 near Eyota (Olmsted County)

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Regional Trails in SE Minnesota Current News – 2015 Trail Updates

• Harmony – Preston Valley State Trail Extension Project (SF 57/HF 49)

• Rochester expanding the Chester Woods Trail extension east to Eyota

• Mill Towns Trail, Cannon Falls, Faribault (Goodhue, Rice County)

• Whitewater Trail, St Charles, Whitewater Park (Olmsted, Winona County)

• Eyota, US 14 Roundabout (Olmsted County)

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Regional Trails in SE Minnesota Current News – 2015 Trail Updates (cont’d)

• Shooting Star Trail expansion, Austin, LeRoy,Rose Creek (Mower County)

• Root River Trail, makeover

• Douglas Trail upgrades

• Winona Levee Park enhancements (enlarge destination stop features)

• Red Wing Levee Park enhancements (Red Wing River Way Trail)

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Regional Trails in SE Minnesota Red Wing – Lake City Bike Trail Overview

• August 1988 Center for Community studies on the development of the bike/pedestrian trail from Hok-Si-La Park to the Sportsman Park.

• Undated Summary of the Goodhue Pioneer Trail which included a trail survey of area trails

• Month 1992 Comprehensive Plan for the Cannon Valley Trail

• August 1997 Map rendition of the Gilbert Creek trailhead having the trail duck under TH 61 at the bridge.

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Regional Trails in SE Minnesota Red Wing – Lake City Bike Trail Overview

• May 2000 Map rendition showing Hok-Si-La Park trail head and staging facilities and the Gilbert Creek bridge trail head. These pages have photos and renderings of the trail alignment.

• Dec 2000 SHE Bike Trail Feasibility Study – noting to connect or be part of the Mississippi River Trail (MRT)(TH 61), Root River Trail (Lanesboro) , and the Cannon River Trail (Red Wing)

• Oct 2001 Proposed Trail alignment in Lake City for the Lakeside Trail extending beyond the Gilbert Creek Bridge along TH 61 to Red Wing. The map also shows the trail head at the bridge following 332nd Ave to Lakeview Drive to connect south to the Terrace Trail (Lake City) and north to Red Wing

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Regional Trails in SE Minnesota Red Wing – Lake City Bike Trail Overview

• Oct 2001 Map of proposed Lakeside trail alignment from the Gilbert Creek bridge trail head following along or near the bluffs to Camp Lake View Road (near Sportsman Park).

• Jan 2002 MnDOT Response to Lake City the Terrace Trail and the Lakeside Trail as to roads, RR crossing, TH 61 concerns

• Dec 2003 Meeting set-up to discuss connecting the Lake City trail through Frontenac to Red Wing at the Flower Valley Road (trail) and/or Colvill Park

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Regional Trails in SE Minnesota Red Wing – Lake City Bike Trail Overview

• March 2004 Public Hearing in Lake City to amend the 2001 city comprehensive plan to add proposed trails with vision of connecting to the Root River Trail to the south and the Cannon valley trail to the north. The goal is to have the LC trail connect with neighboring river communities through Frontenac going north.

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Regional Trails in SE Minnesota Red Wing – Lake City Bike Trail Overview

• March 2004 SMART/DNR – Regional Trail Plan master document identifying all trails within MnDOT District 6 area.

• April 2009 Hastings – Red Wing Trail - noting being part of the MRT, Vermillion River (Trail), connecting with Prairie Island, Cannon Valley Trail, Ravenna Trail,

• April 2011 Goodhue County trail maps of proposed LC-RW bike trail alignment

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Regional Trails in SE Minnesota Trail Funding Sources

• Legacy Plan (Funding)

• Connect People & the outdoors

• Acquire land, create opportunities

• Take care of what we have

• Coordinate among partners (public, private & non-profit partners)

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Regional Trails in SE Minnesota Trail Funding Sources

• Legacy Amendment (3/8 % increase in State Sales Tax)(14%)

• MN – DNR State Parks & Trails (40%)

• Greater MN Parks & Trails (20%)

• State Funding

• Transportation Alternative Program (TAP)

• Amending Existing State Trail Designations (ST 85.0xx)

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Regional Trails in SE Minnesota

•THANK YOU ! •Q & A

• CONTACT: Andru Peters, Lake City @ cadancinbear@yahoo.com

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