Rochester Hills Legistar System

Mr. Hartner explained that the Committee will need to make a decision on the City's

portion of the trail surface when funding becomes available. The intersection

improvements will include new pavement of up to 80 feet in each direction of the

intersection. The City is waiting to hear if the Transportation Bill that has been stalled in

Congress will be re-authorized.

The Friends of the Clinton River Trail (FCRT) developed a survey for their web site that

resulted in 395 responses. The same survey was used in the Spring 2004 Hills Herald

quarterly newsletter to 26,000 homes in the City; only fifty-two (52) responses were

received.

The survey listed three (3) choices for Rochester Hill's portion of the trail surface, which

are:

1. Crushed Fines which uses Limestone

2. Asphalt

3. Stabilized Crushed Stone which uses Limestone but not as dusty

The Committee received the survey results in this meeting packet.

Mr. Dan Keifer and Mr. Tim Gauthier, representing the Friends of the Clinton River

Trail (FCRT), explained the survey results which included the following highlights:

* The survey revealed useful information and comments in terms of understanding how

people relate to the surface of the trail.

* FCRT developed the survey as a part of their 2004 objectives in order to provide

information to the City when the time comes to select the best type of surface.

* The survey was "Internet based" and not restricted to residents of the City.

* The Clinton River Trail (CRT) is considered a "passive" non-challenging trail by

mountain bikers.

* Of the three (3) surface choices, voters were given two (2) votes: a first (1st) place

vote and a second (2nd) place vote.

* The survey results did not yield a "clear winner" for a surface choice, but showed that

there are people who favor a hard surface and people who favor a softer surface.

* The Committee should also consider how the CRT fits into the community. It has a

different "trail setting" than the Paint Creek Trail (PCT).

* The CRT has five (5) major road intersections versus only one (1) for PCT.

Therefore, CRT will be a connection for many more people, businesses and

neighborhoods.

* The FCRT survey results of 395 respondents do not include the 52 respondents from

Hills Herald.

Mr. Hartner also made the following comments:

* The CRT, with its major road crossings, will be a link to more neighborhoods and

businesses which will be an "added amenity" to the City's current bike path system.

* Although there is no way to count the users, the City's current bike path system is the

biggest, single-used recreation facility.

* Snow plowing for the current bike paths is done through the current bike path millage

which is a separate fund.

* The "life cycle costs" for the trail surface are being researched and that information

will be forth coming.

* The Department of Nature Resources (DNR) Trust Fund is another option for a funding

source.

* It is estimated that the cost to surface the four and one-half (4 1/2) miles of trail will be

about $350,000 to $450,000.

Mr. Keifer mentioned that the trail will generate local and regional tourism for the City as

the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy group hosts an annual, state-wide, week-long trail ride

that includes about 600 to 800 cyclists. They are currently looking at a trail route for

July 2005 which would include the City's part of the CRT.

Chairperson Duistermars thanked the FCRT for the hard work they have done with this

project.

Mr. Keifer and Mr. Gauthier offered the FCRT's assistance in the future as the

Committee may need.

Mr. Hartner also acknowledged the tremendous effort from the FCRT regarding this

project.

Mr. Hartner gave a brief update on various park projects. The projects have been

funded with Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds under compliance with

the American Disabilities Act:

* A new double vault toilet with an asphalt pathway has been installed between the

Clinton River Trail and Veteran's Memorial Point.

* An asphalt path has been installed from the Yates parking lot leading to the Clinton

River.

* A single vault toilet with an asphalt pathway has been installed to connect the sledding

hill to the Hill Top Shelter at Bloomer Park.

Currently, the Spencer Park Beach House is fifty percent (50%) constructed and will be

completed by the end of the year.

trail crosses five (5) cities, noting the last two (2) cities are Sylvan Lake and Pontiac to

the west. Mr. Keifer reviewed the proposed Telegraph crossing noting the following

points:

* When the Master Plan was developed last year and approved to current road

standards, it proposed an "at grade" crossing for the trail in two stages: one stage

would be where a trail-user would activate a light that would stop traffic going

northbound to get to the middle of Telegraph Rd; however the trail user would have to

find an opening in traffic to get across southbound Telegraph.

* After further discussions it was determined that trail users would not be able to cross

Telegraph Road safely with the speed and volume of traffic.

* MDOT is in the process of a major reconstruction of that section of Telegraph Rd to

possibly be completed in 2005 or 2006.

* The group began working on this issue last spring with the goal to create a "grade

separating" crossing which will most likely be a pedestrian bridge, much like is used now

to get the trail across I-75 in Auburn Hills.

* A support letter is being requested by the City of Pontiac showing support for the

Pontiac in applying for a grant to the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, for

the Greenways Initiative Program, to fund an engineering study as to how to create a

pedestrian only bridge crossing on Telegraph Road just north of Orchard Lake Road.

* The engineering study is necessary because of the magnitude of the project, the

number of buildings located in the area and to determine how the bridge approaches

can be constructed on each side of Telegraph Road.

* The Friends of the Clinton River Trail have provided its letter of support and are

requesting the City of Rochester Hills do the same.

A motion was made by White, seconded by Swann, that this matter be

Recommended for Approval to the City Council Regular Meeting.

Whereas, a safe, trail user-friendly crossing at Telegraph Road is vital to the

realization of the Clinton River Trail as the very hub of Oakland County's

emerging trailways network; and

Whereas, without a safe trail-road interface here, Telegraph Road will be a barrier

and deterrent to use of the trail, thus diminishing the trail's use and reducing the

potential that it has to revitalize Pontiac's downtown city center and provide high-

quality recreation in a densely populated urban region and connect communities

via non-motorized access throughout a large portion of the metropolitan Detroit

area; and

Whereas, the need to evaluate a pedestrian-only bridge at the Telegraph Road

crossing is the result of a significant effort on the part of trail/highway

stakeholders to find a suitable alternative for the trail-road interface; and

Whereas, beginning in February of this year, a series of meetings known as the "

Clinton River Trail Telegraph Road Crossing Study group" were held to explore

alternatives; and

Whereas, MDOT staff for the Oakland Service Center determined that the at-grade

crossing that was proposed in the Clinton River Trail Master Plan (funded by a

Greenway Initiative pre-development grant in 2003) was unacceptable from a

pedestrian safety point of view; and

Whereas, the work to be funded by this grant application will provide vital

engineering analysis and cost estimates that are essential for final decisions and

specifications for an optimal Telegraph Road crossing and is a prerequisite to

gaining the necessary stakeholder buy-in and funding sources in order for a