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A feature article from APWA-MN Platinum Sponsor Ayres Associates

Consultant Can Help Communities Connect the Dots to Make Trails like the Shooting Star Trail a Reality

As residents of the state known as the “Land of 10,000 Lakes,” it follows that Minnesotans value access to public outdoor spaces, including trail systems that offer a resource for both residents and visitors. Community and regional trail systems allow communities to connect, and in Minnesota many trails provide outlets in nature for walking year-round or engaging in seasonal activities such as biking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. 

Professional services firms offer guidance and technical expertise at every stage of a trail project.
Consulting firms such as Ayres are well-equipped to assist communities through every stage of the trail design and construction process, including everything from concept planning and feasibility studies to construction administration, as well as working with agencies and providing project management. Community outreach is critical when developing shared-use trails, as feedback from multiple types of users (walkers, bicyclists, skiers) and area stakeholders (nearby business owners and wildlife conservation groups) tends to conflict with some and complement others.

“Knowing what your community needs from public opinion forums and surveys can help you to allocate funds toward the needs of your future users,” said Gage Morgan, a civil engineer at Ayres and a member of the APWA-MN Education and Training committee. 

Morgan is the project manager for a trail reconstruction project on the Shooting Star Trail. Ten miles of the Shooting Star Trail will be reconstructed between Taopi and Leroy. The Shooting Star is a shared-use trail that spans nearly the entire width of Mower County in southern Minnesota. 

In addition to Morgan’s professional role on the project, there is also a high personal value to improving the trail. Morgan spent the first 18 years of his life in Mower’s county seat, Austin. 

“I rode that trail all the time in middle school and high school between Austin and Rose Creek, so it was very important for me to land a project with which I was familiar and has an impact in my home community,” Morgan said. 

Maintenance and operation costs are important considerations for a trail’s sustainability.
One aspect of planning and design that often goes by the wayside is ongoing maintenance and operation costs, which may not be considered in the design and construction process.  An outside analysis by a professional consultant can be vital to helping communities develop a plan to support the project they envision.  

“Developing the best system that fits the use cases for as many groups as possible is paramount to successfully creating any trail system,” Morgan said. 
Public and private funding sources are available for trail projects.

Many grants are available for trail design and construction, including the Federal Recreational Trail Program, which ranges from $2,500 to $200,000; the Minnesota Regional Trail Grant Program that offers up to 75% cost coverage with a 25% local match; and Safe Streets and Roads for All. 

Partnership opportunities also exist with private landowners such as utility companies and railroads to develop long, uninterrupted corridors for trail planning. Examples of this in Minnesota include the Hiawatha LRT Trail and the Cedar Lake Trail. Minnesota leads the United States in trail mileage and is second only to California in funding (Source: Rails to Trails Conservancy). According to TrailLink, an online source for trails and maps, Minnesota has  218 trails covering 3,477 miles, including bike, walking, running, and dog walking trails. 

Whether working to improve an existing trail or to launch a new trail system, a professional services firm can help assess and prioritize community needs, develop a sustainable plan, and facilitate funding to help a community’s trail to connect with people, promote healthy lifestyles, and enhance the natural beauty for generations to come.