OHIO TRAILS AND GREENWAYS CONFERENCE 2000 NOTES

MAY 1 & 2, 2000

Monday, May 1, 2000

8:30 – 9:30 Welcome, Introduction and Opening Remarks

Betsey Goodrich from the Trails and Greenways Clearinghouse named their web site at www.trailsandgreenways.org . They have an image library.

Jim Deming introduced names of their advisory committee and board.  They can help with specific problems.

He than discussed possibilities:

1)      Trail systems link together many unused corridors

a)      Ohio to Erie Trail – 1/3 built

b)      North Coast Inland Trail

c)      Great Ohio River Greenway – will go from Ashtabula to Wheeling

d)      Ohio – Erie Towpath Trail

e)      Tri-State Connector (PA/WV/OH) Ohio to DC

2)      If we build as a system, we can get more resources.  We can build political and economic coalitions.  In Erie County and Gallia County there are very vocal oppositions from a few well-funded people.  In Gallia County court determined that if a railroad paid taxes but pulled the tracks they had abandoned the corridor.

3)      Trail Policy Renaissance

a)      Kentucky – HB 221 created state rail trail office and official state railbanking policy.  It created conservation easements, investigated abandonment for possible trail purposes, and created a legislative task force.  They set aside $422,500 to fund the program.  They currently have four miles of trails.  We need to set up this kind of legislation here.

4)      Need to include all counties and will do an Appalachian County initiative to exploit the natural beauty of SE Ohio. These are permanent recreation resources and nobody should be left out.

5)      They can develop the Ohio River Corridor and Muskingum River Corridor.  These would go from NE Ohio to Marietta.

6)      Corridors provide links to Indiana and Michigan

7)      Trails provide safety – Knox and Holmes Counties – for Amish buggies and inner city – Slavic Village area in Cleveland.

10:00 – 11:45 Contrasting Ohio’s TEA-21 Programs and Processes

Bill Daehler – Research Administrator, ODNR

1)      The Recreational Trails Program

a)      Has been around for ten years. 

b)      It was originally part of ISTEA. 

c)      In 1993, had $150,000. 

d)      1996-1997 has $400,000 each year.

e)      18 projects, 8 completed to date.

f)        Changed name to Recreational Trails Program with TEA-21.  Funding has increased nationally to $30 m – FY99, $40 m – FY2000, $50 M 2001 – 2003.

g)      Funds are available for Recreational Trail users – bicycles, skating, ATV’s walking

h)      Funds are administered with a state recreational advisory board.

i)        Ohio’s allocation: 1998 - $800,000; 1999 - $1,000,000; 2000-2003 - $1.2M

j)        Breakdown: 30% non-motorized trails, 40% diverse projects, 30% motorized trails

k)      Any type of trail could benefit.

i)        Buy property for trail

ii)       Develop or construct new trail

iii)     Buy equipment for trail

iv)     Main trail

v)      Trailside and trailhead facilities

l)        Applicants can include local governments, cities, townships, not-for-profits organizations.

m)    You must have an interest in property being developed – lease of at least 15 years

n)      Annual funding cycle – February 1 deadline every year, 3 years of funding.  They have a formal application booklet available on their web site.

o)      They fund 80% of eligible project costs on a reimbursement basis.  You do work and get reimbursed.  You can use other programs as match, including other Federal programs.

p)      Evaluation – 23 criteria in application.  They do site visits.  You complete a questionnaire – address the criteria.  Advisory board developed process - 11 members.

q)      Can do design, construction, maintenance.  Their engineer will review designs.

r)       Environmental Requirements

i)        Meet all Federal laws and executive orders

ii)       No hazardous waste or spills on right-of-way

iii)     Meets Ohio Historical Preservation Office guidelines

iv)     Local Clearinghouse must sign off on project (in our case, FCRPC)

v)      Must be part of local and state transportation approval plans

s)       Grant Size – no maximum or minimum.

i)        $800,000 available statewide

ii)       Very competitive program

iii)     $10,000 to $170,000 funded so far, most $50k - $100k

iv)     Program encourages partnerships

v)      Takes 6 months to make funding decisions and 6 weeks for reimbursement

vi)     Can use donated services as match, volunteer labor, donated equipment

vii)   Design and planning are eligible activities but prefer to spend money on actual trail building

t)        Have not received requests for motorized trails

2)      Other Programs

a)      Natureworks Local Grants Program – 6/7 years

i)        Can assist political subdivisions for parks and recreation projects.  Into 6^th round now

ii)       Deadline 7/1

iii)     $3 M allocated county by county

Linda Piar – ODOT Office of Local Assistance

1)      Enhancement was one of most successful programs to come out of ISTEA

2)      Enhancements pot is 10% of surface transportation funds

3)      Money division

a)      $9M to mpo’s (like MORPC)

b)      Rural Program

c)      Statewide Bicycle or Pedestrian program

4)      Trail has to be transportation related.  Proximity or function impact.  It needs more than one relationship.  Categories include:

a)      Bicycle pedestrian

b)      Scenic and environmental

c)      Historical

5)      Sponsored with local government agency.

6)      Maintenance costs are not eligible and design costs are not covered.

7)      Federal requirements:

a)      Environmental review

b)      ADA

c)      Maintain after completion

8)      You have two years to complete project or ODOT can withdraw funds.

9)      Process:

a)      Talk to ODOT first – contact your local district (in our case, Randy Comisford, District 5, 740/323-4400 x 5184).

b)      Review application

c)      Involve community

d)      Line-up local support

e)      Identify and verify sources of matching funds

f)        Get parties involved

g)      Hold public meetings

h)      Obtain letters of support

i)        Need certified funding sources and costs

j)        Need date project ready for construction

k)      Need letters from all communities saying they are onboard

10)  Problems

a)      Inaccurate cost estimates.  Be sure to build in inflation

b)      Lack of knowledge of requirements

c)      Unreasonable completion periods

d)      Acquisition and right-of-way may take longer than expected

11)  Timelines

a)      Process opened 2/15; grants turned into district by 6/15

b)      Awards announced in fall

c)      Can put rural and statewide bike project in one application but they are reviewed in separate programs

d)      Next grants start 2/2002

e)      District reviews grant and sent to three review teams

12)  What looking for:

a)      Must improve transportation mobility and access

b)      Enhance existing transportation projects

c)      Be well-prepared

d)      Good cost estimates

e)      Can do an application with land acquisition as only expense

f)        Try to exceed the 20% match requirement

g)      Environmentally sound

h)      Feasible

i)        Transportation alternative to automobile use – get from place to place

j)        Improve bicyclist or pedestrian safety

k)      Help economy and livability of community

13)  Ineligible activities

a)      Circular paths

b)      Not going from point A to point B

c)      Can’t bypass residential areas

d)      Miss businesses

14)  For land acquisition

a)      Need to do environmental study – a local cost

b)      Need clearance before you can receive award

Roxanne Kane – ODOT District 11

LPA – Local public agency

1)      Policy approved 1997

2)      Enter into agreement with ODOT to do design, advertise, complete project all at local level.

3)      Would like to do this process for more enhancement projects

4)      Use local standards of local government can reduce project time frame, reduce local costs.

5)      All laws still apply

6)      Work with districts – let them know who will apply.  District decides if project will be LPA or not

7)      In need to purchase right of way need to follow Local Acquisition Act

8)      Only contractors pre-qualified by ODOT can submit bids

9)      If not in roadway, do not need to use list of ODOT pre-qualified contractors

10)  Must use pre-qualified consultants as well as they are familiar with requirements

11)  Must assure contractor fulfills program in a timely fashion

12)  If ODOT handles the contract, you must give ODOT 20%. They pay the contractor.  If LPA, ODOT pays contractor 80% and you pay 20%.

13)  If non traditional, there is a 20% management and inspection cost

Question and answer

·        Make sure you do proper drainage as when a trail is paved there is a lot more water in ditches than when it soaked through ballast

·        Intersections – you will have to bring trail up to grade

·        You need pre-qualified consultants for environmental impact study

·        Scope of work needs to be very descriptive and fine-tuned

12:00 Monday Luncheon – Gordon Proctor, Director, ODOT

1)      Yellow Spring is good example of trail dedicated to enriching our communities

2)      Use of trails increasing over last two years

3)      ODOT has helped 150 miles of trails, spent $40M on bikeways and $7M on Miami Trail

4)      Wants to complete coherent bicycle trail network

5)      Need to create a lot of partnerships

6)      How can we get personal services to neighborhoods?

7)      Office of local assistance are placed to cut across lines at ODOT

8)      Fund 20% of applicants

9)      ODOT has a program resource guide

10)  More community support, more chance of receiving funding

1.     1:15 – 3:00 Building Partnerships to Attract Potential Users

Colleen May – Research Manager for Ohio Department of Development Division of Travel and Tourism

1)      Three questions:

a)      Who will come?

b)      What do they want?

c)      How do you get the word to them?

2)      Soft adventurer traveler – 23.6 million Midwesterners who like camping, hiking, bicycling and bird watching

3)      Ohio Leisure Traveler – 11 million Ohioans who want nature escapes.  Purpose of trip is to visit family and friends, special event, getaways or general vacation

4)      Demographics:

5)      Benefit segmentation:

a)      Escape

b)      Relaxation

c)      Family togetherness

d)      Relations with nature

e)      Socialization

f)        Learning/Discovery

g)      Adventure

6)      What will enhance experience?

a)      Attraction and destination

b)      Interpretation and signage

c)      Lodging

d)      Food service

e)      Unique shops

f)        Good customer service

g)      Need information and direction

7)      How does audience receive information?

a)      Consumers are within 100 mile radius

b)      Word of mouth

c)      Media

d)      Other (flyers, posters, mailings)

8)      Media

a)      Press releases

b)      Phone calls

c)      E-mail

9)      Promotion partners to do brochures, printing, radio, TV – looking for good stories

10)  What is your hook?

a)      Consumer enticement

i)        Event

ii)       Giveaways

iii)     Fun

iv)     Building a membership – newsletter makes it their trail

b)      Media

i)        Why is trail unique and interesting

ii)       Telling a story – clear and concise and with images – get slides of people using trail

c)      Use the internet – 1,300 of 1,500 newspapers have a web site

11)  Travel trends

a)      Soft adventure

b)      Learning getaways

c)      www.tia.org

Partners, Pool and Package

1)      Identify partners

a)      Sponsors

b)      Promotional partners

c)      Work toward common goal

2)      Pool resources

a)      In-kind contributions

b)      Cooperative promotions

3)      Packaging – what is needed for a getaway, day trip or vacation?

a)      Accommodations

b)      Rest stop/food

c)      Bike/skate equipment rentals

d)      Other activities in area

4)      Ongoing promotion

a)      Have printed materials

b)      Update database

Contact: www.ohiotourism.com/industry, 614/466-8844, Fax 466-6744

Howard Nusbaum – Ohio Hotel and Motel Association

1)      Four thoughts

a)      Form strategic partnerships

b)      Create economies of scale

c)      Don’t be afraid to be creative

d)      Partner with b&b

2)      The internet is your friend

3)      Work with local convention and visitors bureau, hotels and b&b’s

4)      Link to local Audubon Societies and do a bird tour on trail

5)      Have brochures at hotels, b&b’s, bike shops

6)      Who do you share a customer with?

7)      What events could you partner with – local charity for walk-a-thon?

8)      Register with state film commission

9)      Learn about other business

10)  Use site – www.gorp.com

11)  Develop web page and links – use salami method, one bite at a time

12)  Develop a prioritized list

Ed Steward – Silver Wheels Cycling Club

Define goals, leaders, partners, tasks and growth areas

1)      Goals

a)      Administrative – money, partners, leaders

b)      Membership – define target audience and set membership goals

c)      Communication and promotion – literature, presentations, newsletters

2)      Leaders

a)      Who will drive new organization in formative stages

b)      Where – bike shops, civic groups, county leadership, other bike clubs, other fitness groups

c)      Need 1-5

3)      Partners

a)      Active – another group to work with side by side – sweat equity

b)      Financial – give you some money for start up costs

c)      Affiliate – lends name to group to build credibility, i.e. local newspaper

d)      Examples

i)        Seniors group

ii)       Health organizations – hospitals, ems, insurance, physical therapy, sports medicine, chiropractors, cardiologists

iii)     Sports organizations – running clubs, fitness clubs, other cycling clubs

iv)     Companies with executives active in fitness and cycling

e)      Companies to benefit – city/county and parks, bike shops, health clubs, sports publications, schools and colleges

f)        State and national organizations – League of American Bicyclists, RTC

4)      Tasks

a)      Promotion – if you don’t get word out, no one knows about you

b)      Activities – have fund

c)      Communities – members know what is going on

d)      Memberships – need way to process people

e)      Finance – Plan carefully, spend frugally, record accurately, report honestly

f)        Plan for the future

5)      Growth Areas

a)      Multi-sports activities calendar – cross county skiing, hiking

b)      Education, LAB certification, youth education via metroparks

c)      Touring – go to other county’s trails

d)      Website: www.loraincounty.com/silversheels

e)      Merchandise and publications – T-shirts, jerseys, calendars, bike locks

f)        Advocacy – trail group in area gets word out about cycling

Question and answer

·        Customer of b&b matches demographics of trail users

·        Package with winery tours

·        Use trail for convention group activities

·        Know economic impact and demographics of trails

·        Give brochure to refill racks in hotels and provide the rack

·        Don’t limit vision to an arbitrary political line, customer doesn’t care

·        Do a nice trail and make it happen

·        Work with junior highs to build future audiences

3:30 – 5:00 New Resources for Trails and Greenways

Jack Shaner – Ohio Environmental Council

Taft Environmental Bond Fund

1)      Governor and legislature are bankers and want a loan.  We need to trust but verify.

a)      Need to make sure that trail interests are accounted for.

2)      January 19, HJR 15 – did three things.

a)      Authorizes issuance of debt of $200M for brownfield cleanup, acquisition, infrastructure – liquor profits

b)      $200M for open space conservation: farmland preservation, state and local parks through general revenue fund

c)      Locally driven program

3)      There were two unsuccessful attempts to amend the program by deleting farmland preservation.

4)      Goes to ballot as State Issue 1 in November

5)      New Legislature will flesh it out when they take seats in January

Cathy Allen – Executive Director – Ohio League of Conservation Voters

1)      Need to make sure people in Ohio vote for this

2)      Write to Taft with ideas about bond funds

3)      Talk to press outlets

4)      Find who how candidates stand

5)      Vote

6)      Talk to newly elected officials after the election

Denise Kind – Nature Conservancy

1)      Did a survey and found

a)      93% protecting streams and rivers important

b)      82% protecting endangered and rare species

c)      84% creating parks and wildlife refuges

d)      88% more recreation

2)      Need to get health community involved

3)      Ballot language is key

Elaine Marsh

1)      Conservation and Reinvestment Act - $54M to OH annually

2)      Must show possibilities of projects in each district

3)      Non profits and industry can apply for money

4)      Could use to match ODNR and ODOT TEA-21

5)      Could use brownfields to match greenfields as an economic stimulus package

Tuesday, May 2, 2000

8:45 – 10:00  Legislative Forum; The Future for Ohio Trails and Greenways

Priscilla Mead – Upper Arlington (finishing term in house, running for senate) – Prepared Remarks

1)      Walking and cycling slow the world down

2)      Desire to preserve open spaces

3)      Not going to ruin the state we live in

4)      Generation gap to jump – how we govern local communities

5)      Been able to choose issues involved in

6)      Encourage you to use time wisely this summer – things should be in budget from Governor before legislature sees it

7)      Farmland preservation and urban sprawl – cherish natural resources

8)      Have your representative and senator see the work you are doing

9)      Develop partnerships between local communities and state government

10)  People leaving legislature because of term limitations know how to get money – will have a new batch of candidates and we need to get to them

11)  Ohio Bicentennial Commission – 2003 is the beginning point for many projects.  Use the momentum of the Bicentennial to show plans and act as a budget item to get projects funded.  Each representative and senator has to be friend of effort.

Jay Hottinger – Fairfield County, etc. – Did not have prepared statement

1)      Working with Panhandle Trail, great trails in Licking County

2)      Issue 1 is a great opportunity for State of Ohio to preserve greenspaces and clean up brownspaces

3)      Need to educate voters more

Eric Fingerhut – Cleveland – Prepared remarks

1)      Bond issue deserves strong support.  Amount could be bigger, but it is a precedent

2)      Need more specific public input process

3)      We need serious land use planning in Ohio

4)      We need to redevelop older industrial areas as this is cheaper than building out with new infrastructure

Question and Answer

Issue - Matching Funds are hard to get in rural areas

Priscilla – one size does not fit all.  Ability to get money is when you get funds.  As we look at use of bond money, devil is in the details.  Need to set policy.  Advocates sharing of funds that means no place should not be eligible

Eric – need to share in statewide basis.  Areas that have it don’t want to give it up to those that don’t have it.  Created situation where people want the greatest economic use can get from the land.

Issue – Farm Bureaus oppose rail trails

Priscilla – Don’t know difference of farm bureau.  Inform your legislator of the pros and cons.  Would love to know more about the problem.

Eric – Have party and geographic division.  You can cross party to work on geographic lines.  New group of legislators represents outlying suburbs. 

Issue – In multiple jurisdictions, who plans?

Eric – This is a very complex problem.  Problem of regional planning is not unique to Ohio.  Land use planning is complex.  The need for regional planning is growing.  New incentives or requirements are needed for local jurisdictions to work together and develop as a region.

Priscilla – The #1 issue is land use planning.  Townships are strongest local government.  The vast majority of legislators have township trustee or county experience.  Municipalities are strong in Ohio.  Because of this we may never have regional planning.  The new legislature will still be locally based.  The township government system is an impediment to regional thinking and planning.

Tips after legislators left from Jack Shaner:

1)      Plan your dive, dive your plan – know what you want

2)      Pull the trigger or will you feed my dog – what is it that you want to convey.  You are set, legislator is late.  Go to the two minute offense condensed from 20 minutes.

3)      Shut up and listen – when a lawmaker talks, shut up!  Don’t interrupt.  You want to know their impressions and biases.

4)      If you don’t have an answer, don’t make up one – say you will get back to them.  Become a trusted resource for them.

5)      They are sizing you up – Are you the fringe, middle, a representative from your district?  Be a mainstream kind of thing.

6)      Walls have ears – Don’t talk about the meeting until you get back into your car

7)      The whole world is watching – you are an ambassador for the trail movement

Jim: If you would like to meet with your Representative or Senator, we can join in the meeting.  You have to prepare the issue yourself.  Remember you can spend 20% of your time lobbying. 

10:30 – 12:00 Building Regional Partnerships

Future Meeting Topics – Reluctant owners

Trail raises value of home

Have workshops for landowners who live on trail

Have meetings to celebrate opening of trail and what is happening – rotate location