North Carolina - The Great Trails State

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1 STRONGER BY DESIGN North Carolina - The Great Trails State Carolina Thread Trail Forum December 2014 Iona L. Thomas, AICP Stewart Greenway Design Group ithomas@stewartinc.com

2 NC Good Roads Good Roads Movement

3 North Carolina s Challenges Loss of agriculture and textile jobs No replacement industries for small, rural towns Rural areas losing younger demographics Slow recovery from recession Intense competition to attract new businesses 29.4% Adult obesity rate Over 1.2 million with diabetes by 2030

4 The Great Trails State Challenge Where can you invest a dollar and see returns in each of these metrics? Economic Development Environmental Quality Transportation Choices Higher Property Values Jobs Reduce Healthcare Cost Tourism Recreation

5 Can North Carolina become the Great Trail State?

6 What does a Great Trail State Look Like? Thriving Economy Top Tourist Destination Healthy Residents Transportation Alternatives

7 Support Stronger Economy Jobs Tourism Fred Smith Company has been honored to provide construction services associated with the expansion of North Carolina s trail systems, which has stimulated our economy by more than $23,000,000 and provided work for hundreds of employees and subcontractors. ~Fred Smith, Founder The Fred Smith Company Direct spending in Mount Airy by visitors who use the greenways is estimated to be $578,585.[and] their spending makes the greenway system an important part of the overall tourism offerings in Mount Airy. ~Erick T Byrd, PhD., UNCG Bryan School of Business and Economics Tax Base Greenways have been shown to increase the value of adjacent properties by as much as 5 to 20 percent. ~Mecklenburg County Greenway Plan 2009 Competiveness Building our network of trails is an essential investment that enables the Research Triangle Park to remain globally competitive by allowing us to attract the type of workers that companies want with amenities professional workers demand. ~Liz Rooks, Vice President Research Triangle Park

CTT North/South Spine CTT North/South Spine 89 miles in length 25 miles complete ~ $25 MM invested Needed for completion $60 million $11MM already committed ~ $49

8 CTT North/South Spine CTT North/South Spine 89 miles in length 25 miles complete ~ $25 MM invested Needed for completion $60 million $11MM already committed ~ $49 MM needs to be raised 10 year timeframe When completed, Spine will serve 860,000 NC residents generate significant annual tax revenue Payback : less than 10 years

9 East Coast Greenway Triangle Route 72 Miles Durham to Clayton 93% Complete Gaps funded for completion 9 different jurisdictions Connects to over 100 miles of additional trail

10 States Are Investing in Significant Trail Networks Texas South Carolina Florida Georgia Virginia Michigan

Azalea Trail, LA 26 Rock Creek Park, DC 25 Hockhocking Adena Bikeway, OH 20 Shining Sea Bikeway, MA 11 Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, AK 11 Skyline Wilderness Park Trails, CA 10 Mammoth Cave Railroad

11 North Carolina has Great Trails to Market June 2014 article includes no North Carolina bike trails. Here s how we stack up! 8D Tuesday, June 10, 2014 USA TODAY 15 Fantastic Bike Trails Trail Miles Paseo del Bosque Trail, NM 35 Mohonk Preserve Trails, NY 30 Bear Creek Greenway, OR 26 Mid-Mountain Trail, UT 26 The Wild Azalea Trail, LA 26 Rock Creek Park, DC 25 Hockhocking Adena Bikeway, OH 20 Shining Sea Bikeway, MA 11 Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, AK 11 Skyline Wilderness Park Trails, CA 10 Mammoth Cave Railroad Trail, KY 9 Discovery Trail, WA 8.5 Animas River Trail, CO 7 High Bridge Park Trail, NY 3 Memorial Park Trails, TX 3 Neuse River Trail - 34 Miles Wake/Johnston Counties American Tobacco Trail - 23 Miles Durham/Wake/Johnston Counties Gary Shell Trail 15 Miles Wilmington, NC Bicentennial Greenway miles Greensboro Black Creek/White Oak 11.8 Miles Cary, NC Mallard Creek Trail 7 Miles Mecklenburg County Cape Fear River Trail 4 Miles Fayetteville, NC

12 The Virginia Creeper Trail Story Damascus, VA Pop 981 Trail Town USA Over 100,000 Visitors per Year 34 Miles long Businesses within 8 Miles 10 Bike Rental / Provision companies 9 B&Bs 5 National Hotel Chains 27 Restaurants

13 Long Distance Trails and Tourism Increase tourism in small, rural towns Creates it owns industry Helps keep and attract younger demographics

94 in direct medical benefit. The sensitivity analyses indicated the ratios ranged from 1.65 to 13.40. Therefore, building trails is cost beneficial from a public health perspective.

14 Trails and Health Every $1 spent building biking trails and walking paths can save about $3 in medical expenses. Through GO NC!, BCBSNC hopes to improve health and reduce obesity-related medical costs in North Carolina. ~ Brad Wilson, BCBSNC president and CEO Every $1 investment in trails for physical activity led to $2.94 in direct medical benefit. The sensitivity analyses indicated the ratios ranged from 1.65 to Therefore, building trails is cost beneficial from a public health perspective. ~Cost-Benefit Analysis of Physical Activity Using Bike/Pedestrian Trails From current evidence, we find that urban river parkways can improve physical, mental, and community health, and that they are particularly important in offering opportunity for 'green exercise' physical activity in the presence of nature. ~ UCLA s Center for Occupational and Environmental Health

NC Trail Funding Overview Significant reduction in State funding across programs State PARTF DOT Match CWMTF 20% State match for federal dollars defunded effective in July 2015 Historically state

15 NC Trail Funding Overview Significant reduction in State funding across programs State PARTF DOT Match CWMTF 20% State match for federal dollars defunded effective in July 2015 Historically state funding an important incentive for local and private investment Private Large Corporations. Local Businesses. Foundations. Individuals. Local Federal DOT Bike/Ped Recreational Trails Program Some local governments using innovative sources Bond / CIP Local Matching Staff Administration Maintenance

16 NORTH CAROLINA TRAILS COALITION North Carolina Trails Coalition Our combined trail networks will connect over 5.4 Million residents, span more than 2,800 miles and touch 64 counties. 16

17 NORTH CAROLINA TRAILS COALITION NCTC 2014 Initiatives Promote Optimize Invest Promote established NC Trails of Significance Optimize policies, programs and public information for trail implementation Invest in trail connectivity, communications and collaborations for overall development Nov 2014 and beyond April 2015 and beyond Jan 2016 and beyond

18 Great Trails State Makes the 25-year Vision

19 Great Trails State Makes the 25-year Vision Support the completion of statewide and regionally significant bicycle and pedestrian systems in order to provide transportation options and promote the great trails state brand.

20 My Challenge to You Educate Influence Collect Data Connect to Businesses Program & Promote

21 EDUCATE Arm your local tourism and visitors bureau with information Trail maps Program activities Trip ideas Reach out to economic development staff Benefits of trails Value to relocating businesses

Partner with likeminded initiatives Encourage business leaders to

22 INFLUENCE Involve yourself in local politics Local elections are critical Educate elected officials Reach out to your legislators Partner with likeminded initiatives Encourage business leaders to articulate benefits of trails Be positive trails are part of a solution

23 COLLECT DATA What kind of data? User counts Economic Surveys Property value trends Partner Universities NCDOT MPO/RPOs Standardization Share your data

Data Helps Tell the Story American Tobacco Trail Study Use increased 133% 217,900 trips in 2013 508,100 trips in 2014 Trip distance increased 27% 7.3 miles in 2013 9.

24 Data Helps Tell the Story American Tobacco Trail Study Use increased 133% 217,900 trips in ,100 trips in 2014 Trip distance increased 27% 7.3 miles in miles in 2014 Trip duration increased 7% Direct trip related expenditures rose 61% $2.4 million in 2013 $6.1 million in 2014 Estimated annual impacts 43 jobs $1.3 million in employee compensation $4.9 million in total business gross revenues.

Include this intention in your greenway and trail plans Make

25 CONNECT TO BUSINESS Create business opportunities along trails Food and Drink Provision Companies Bike Service Shopping Include this intention in your greenway and trail plans Make sure your UDO supports this type of development Develop a signage plan

26 PROGRAM & PROMOTE Actively program your trails Treat them just like a park Some ideas: Nature hikes Organized rides and runs Stroller mornings Partner Schools Parks and Rec YMCA Health clubs

27 PLAN BIG! Plans only constrict once they leave our hands Watch limiting beliefs There s not enough money We ll never get the land NCDOT will never let us do that Our citizens won t get it

28 Can North Carolina become the Great Trail State?

Inaugural Mountains-to-Sea Trail Town Conference. September 4-5, 2014 Hillsborough, NC

Inaugural Mountains-to-Sea Trail Town Conference September 4-5, 2014 Hillsborough, NC Thanks to our sponsors and the Hillsborough Tourism Development Authority and Tourism Board What do people experience