03-27-1990 PTRC Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Page 4 DISCUSSION: The highlighted corridors represented a first 'go-around' at designating • a main trails network. A large number of other existing trails and bikelanes were shown on the base map, but not highlighted. Additionally, there were some desirable routes excluded because plans for them had not been approved. Future dialogs with the various communities will make some of these part of the "Comprehensive Plan" . Original plans for the BN ROW called for acquiring the property to Beam Ave; however, the Ramsey County Commission is recommending that it be extended to the county line near Bald Eagle. Paving of the DNR Munger Trail should be completed by the end of summer, 1991. The Lexington Ave. Corridor remains embroiled in controversy. Some of the proposals to help speed up the resolution include setting up a special committee to review the available alternatives, holding a bike tour event to examine the whole length of this corridor. Because Lexington Ave. is scheduled to be improved very soon, resolving the bikeway configuration is a very urgent issue. There is support for a wide range of configuration alternatives. It is critical that the biking community unite on one recommendation. As a means to increase visibility for the trails advocacy, there were several suggestions to set up a special bike touring route that would pass through a large number of scenic features; i. e. lakes, regional parks, rivers. That could be a published route and/or a special touring event. Bikeways around lakes, through woods, etc. are the most desirable routes for recreational bicyclists. Another suggestion (from Mike Miller) was to get local businesses and othe public establishments along "feeder routes" to provide bikers amenities such as bike racks, rest rooms, drinking fountains, etc. This would boost their business as well as make biking more pleasurable. The question was raised on how to get public works planners more involved in the broad planning of trails. Marsha Soucheray indicated that the Shoreview Trails and Bikeway Board solved that problem by placing the board under the auspices of the Public Works Department. PLANS: The proposed "Corridor Network" represents a first go-through toward a Comprehensive Trails Plan. In the immediate future, the St. Paul and Ramsey County Parks Commissions and the board of the Friends of the St. Paul and Ramsey County Parks will work together to provide more details and gain concurrence. Review by each of the suburban parks commissions in the county is needed to get their inputs and hopefully get them to "buy into" the project. The Ramsey Park & Recreation Commission will formallize the basic plan somewhat before submitting it for review. A full map showing how each community's trails fit in with neighboring communities and the overall plan will be prepared for distribution. The issue of urban bikeways configurations for high ADT, highly intersected roads such as Lexington Avenue needs quick resolution---off road paths vs. bike lanes.