The Quarterly Newsletter Published by the Linn County Trails Association

Transcription

1 The Quarterly Newsletter Published by the Linn County Trails Association SEPTEMBER - FALL, 2004 LCTA Officers President s Message President: Mike Wilson Vice President: Jim Healy Treasurer: Ed Holstrum Secretaries: Jan and Dean Barnum Board Members Troy Albrecht Brice AntonJensen Joel Barnum Jon Bogert Joe Clark Dick Chelikowsky Sandy Colton Nancy Craig Gary Darland Ben Dukes Keith Fletcher Roger Flint Jason Gormley Diane Handler Ed Hayek Ed Holstrom Jim Houlahan Larry Jayne Chuck Kelsey Sue Kramer Dave Maresh Ron McGraw Steve Nelson Dave Oliver Tom Peffer Amy Reasner Brad Schoenfelder Mark Trumbauer John Wauer Judy Whetstine Gail Williams Dave Wolf Ex-Officio Jo Ann Beer Tom Neenan Don Thomas Wade Wagner Honorary Bob Davison Ed Colton The 2004 construction year has been an exciting and productive year for Linn County trails. The Cedar Valley Nature Trail blacktop paving was completed North to County Home Road. Underpasses have been installed at both County Home Road and Midway Road. Soon the trail will be back in business, better than ever. Hiawatha celebrated the opening of the concrete surfaced trail through town making the connection from the CVNT to the Cedar River Trail an attractive, well-landscaped addition to our trail system. The Rotary Clubs project around Cedar Lake is nearing completion. This is another real plus for the trail system. Cedar Lake is becoming another asset to the quality of life in Cedar Rapids, and the trail helps make this happen. The Cedar River Trail was extended this year south beyond Tait Cummins Park to Route 30. The bridge over the tracks at the sports complex is up and the paving south is in place. The bridge is high and gives a great view of the Cedar River. It is now possible to go on a paved trail from County Home Road south to Route 30. Soon, a commute from Iowa City to Cedar Rapids will be a reality. The citizens of Fairfax and Amana are getting together to acquire a trail connection as another step in the Cedar Rapids to Amana connection along Prairie Creek. This connection will be part of the Ioway Trail, which will be a link to Marshalltown and Des Moines. Additional trail counters have been installed and the circuitry modified to make the counts more accurate. We are continuing to document the many, many people who enjoy our trails. Isn t it exciting to see all the great things that are happening to the trails in Linn County? A trail user enjoys the beautiful prairie plantings along the Cedar River Trail.

2 Grant Wood Trail Report September 10, 2004 By Keith Fletcher Since our last report, the approaches to our flatcar bridge have now been completed by filling in the space between the concrete wings with gravel to form a ramp up onto the bridge. Photo #1 shows the southern approach to the bridge as it now appears. At Springville Road, referring to the map of Segment B, the quarter mile segment west of the highway has been graded to provide a much smoother surface for trail users. Photo #2 shows the trail after grading and looking west from Springville Road. At the west end of this segment, the trail bends to the southwest, enroute to the flatcar bridge. This is a heavily wooded portion of the trail which is especially attractive as shown in Photo #3. A sign has now been erected at the Oxley Road end of the trail, informing trail users unfamiliar with the trail, that the trail continues on again at Creekside Road, where an- other sign has been added to designate the mileage to Paralta Road and Springville Road. Referring now to the map of Segment A, extensive grading for the extension of 62 nd Street across the western end of the trail is now expected to get underway this fall. The actual paving of the street may not occur until early next year. Every effort will be made to minimize the disruptions for trail users. Last but certainly not least, useful discussions are still being conducted with the Linn County Conservation Board staff regarding possible acquisition of the trail by the county. No formal agreement on this is anticipated in the immediate future, as there are a number of details that will have to be worked out. In the meantime, enjoy the great fall weather out on the trail. The trail is being freshly mowed now and should be in fine shape for the colorful fall season! COMMENTS: Although not shown on these maps, the trail will later be extended eastward from Springville Road to the Jones County line. Development has not yet started on that portion. Approximate mileages: Hwy 13 to Springville Road 6.0 mi. Hwy 13 to Hindman Road 1.6 mi. Hindman Road to Oxley Rd 1.6 mi. Oxley Rd. to Creekside Rd 0.7 mi. (Using county roads) Creekside Rd. to Paralta Rd 1.4 mi. Paralta Rd. to Springville Rd 0.7 mi. Springville Rd. to Jones Co. 4.6 mi. The main parking areas are located at Hwy 13, Oxley Road, and Creekside Road. FALL, 2004 TRAIL CONNECTIONS PAGE 2

3 Grant Wood Trail Photos Photo #1 (top left) - shows the south approach to the flatcar bridge. Photo #2 - (center left) shows the newlygraded trail west of Springville Road. Photo #3 (bottom right) - Trail view on the way to the north end of the flatcar bridge. Photo #4 (top right) - Sign at Oxley Road Photo #5 (bottom left) - Sign at Creekside Road FALL, 2004 TRAIL CONNECTIONS PAGE 3

4 The opening of the Cedar River Trail along Center Point Road in Hiawatha on July 23 was cause for celebration. The Cedar Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors, members of LCTA, and employees of City Hall all participated in a ribbon cutting ceremony that opened the Hiawatha extension. The trail linkage connects the CVNT in Hiawatha to the Cedar River Trail in Cedar Rapids, spanning the distance between Blairs Ferry Road, northward along Center Point Road, to the Cedar Valley Nature Trail. The City of Hiawatha received $15,000 from the LCTA for building the connection, with the check being presented on July 23 at the ribbon cutting ceremony. Hiawatha Mayor Tom Patterson was quoted in the Cedar Rapids Gazette (Sat., July 24, 2004), stating that, You watch the number of people using this trail and it is phenomenal. Further, Angie Cole of the Hiawatha Parks and Recreation Department stated that, It s an asset for any employee in the area as a safe place to walk on their lunch hour. The connection is one more link in the American Discovery Trail System, which will eventually stretch from California to Virginia, meaning that bicyclists will be able to travel all the way across the country. Trail Connection Celebrated Trail Safety is Simple Common Sense By Amy Reasner Some people have expressed concern regarding trail safety following the June 29, 2004, attack on a female runner near McLeod Run on the Cedar Valley Nature Trail. However, Sgt. Christy Hamblin, of the Cedar Rapids Police Department, states that exercising safety on the trails is a relatively simple matter. The first rule in trail safety is to travel in numbers, stated Hamblin. She cited a recent study which concluded that if you are with one other person, you reduce your chances of being attacked by 70%, and reduce them further to 90% by being in a group of three or more people. Hamblin also urges people using the trails to choose their route by determining when it is most traveled. If you are going to use the trails early in the morning or late at night when there are not other people around, utilize the city streets or trails near homes and near traffic. If you want to run or walk or bike alone, leave a note for the person that you live with, so they know when and where you are exercising. If you live alone, call work and leave a message with your secretary or your coworker, so that they know when you should arrive. The sergeant also encourages trail users to leave a headset at home when they are by themselves. She pointed out that there are new headsets available which permit you to wear them around your neck, not in your ears. She states that these are preferable to having a headset that blocks out all of the noise, not only from persons approaching, but also from dogs and vehicles. Finally, Sgt. Hamblin urges trail users to carry cell phones with them, so that they may report any suspicious activity or if they have been injured. The Cedar Rapids Police Department has not fielded many reports of methamphetamine labs along Cedar Rapids Metro Area trails, stated Hamblin. However, she stated that trail users should never stop to pick up any bottles, coolers, or boxes along the trails. She further suggested that such containers may hold hazardous materials. If you spot such a container and it looks suspicious, contact the Cedar Rapids Police Department. Sgt. Hamblin states that with these few tips, trail users can enjoy Cedar Rapids Metro Area trails with few worries. FALL, 2004 TRAIL CONNECTIONS PAGE 4

5 by Ron McGraw - Updated from the Summer, 2004 issue of Trail Connections - Metro Trails Status FUNDING? CEMAR TRAIL- We are resubmitting our request for Federal funds in the October 2004 round. The Cedar Rapids commissioners have again agreed to a 40% match, which is strong support.? ELY CONNECTION- A joint Linn County/City of Ely grant request for Federal funding will be submitted this Fall. Contacts are ongoing with the folks who own the old railroad right-of-way route which would be the best way to connect Ely with that short stretch of the Hoover Nature Trail which exists in Linn county. Linn County is to do the grant request, design, and construction supervision while Ely will control, operate, and maintain the completed trail. We still need to find a route for connecting Ely to Johnson County. CONSTRUCTION (SEE THE GRAPHIC REGARDING CONSTRUCTION PLANS)? CEDAR RIVER TRAIL SEGMENT F - Work is nearing completion on this section of the trail. The bridge is up and only a short section of the trail remains to be paved. There will still be the shoulder work and planting of grass. With this step trail users can reach south of Ely road and can also go west to C Street SW on the paved stretch which will be part of the coming connection to Kirkwood College.? CEDAR VALLEY TRAIL - The underpasses at County Home and Midway Roads are in place and by the time you read this the trail should be open again. The parking lot at County Home Road is open.? CEDAR LAKE LOOP - Construction is underway all around the lake on the Rotary International project to place a number of shelters, benches, observation facilities and information kiosks to make this area a destination for trail users.? ELLIS PARK TRAIL - Utility and road construction has started. This is a necessary first step in trail construction. This is a multi-year project, which will continue through at least A connection to the CEDAR RIVER TRAIL is being studied. Linn County Trail Status CURRENTLY OPEN FOR USE-September, 2004 TRAIL MILES* SURFACE REMARKS CVNT (ADT) 23 Gravel/Asphalt 52 Miles in Linn County Sac & Fox 7.1 Gravel Cedar River Tr. (ADT) 10.2 Asphalt Cedar Rapids+Hiawatha Lake Loop 1 Asphalt Bowling Street 2 Concrete Cherokee Park 1 Gravel Ellis Park Trail 2 Asphalt/ Concrete Around Cedar Lake to Cemar Trail Marion Parks Trail 3 Gravel Follows Indian Creek Grant Wood Trail 5 Grass/Gravel Through Eastern Linn Co. Hoover NT (ADT) 1.3 Gravel 76th Ave SW to Wright Bros. Blvd. Total 55.6 CRT Seg. F (ADT) 2 Asphalt Includes up to RR Bridge CVNT (ADT) N/A Asphalt Paving Completion 3.2 mi. CVNT Underpass (ADT) 0 Concrete At County Home Road New Parking Lot 0 Gravel CVNT at Co Home Road CVNT Underpass (ADT) 0 CVNT at Midway Road Total CONSTRUCTION 2005/2006 CONSTRUCTION Ellis Park Trail 2 Asphalt Part of utility project CRT Segment G (ADT) 2 Gravel Connects CRT to HNT ROUTES? No progress on the DRY CREEK /CEMAR /WEST BY-PASS matters. IOWA CITY/CEDAR RAPIDS CONNECTION - The first meeting was held by the task force set up by the Linn and Johnson County Supervisors to investigate a trail connection between the two Metro areas. The Johnson County Council of Governments presented proposed routes for the rail and ownership issues were discussed. Although there are issues to be resolved the consensus was that a trail is feasible.? CEDAR RIVER TRAIL SEGMENT G - This is a joint CEDAR RAPIDS/LINN COUNTY PROJECT. Construction is planned for This is the final segment of the CEDAR RIVER TRAIL which connects to the north terminus of the HOOVER TRAIL in Linn county at 76 th Avenue. We would like to complete design work by this winter so that construction can get an early start next spring.? NEXT- In 2005 we would like to get back to working on some loops. You night remember that this work was diverted for Vision Iowa planning. SUMMARY - Segment F (done) connects to segment G (2005 construction), which connects to the Hoover Trail segment (completed long ago), which leads down to the Ely Connector (planned for 2006), which will lead into the Iowa City/Cedar Rapids corridor trail (on which a task force has just started). There is a plan! Kirkwood Connection 2 Concrete CRT to the College Ellis Park Trail 2 Asphalt Part of Utility Project Edgewood Road 1.25 Asphalt Between O & Ellis Ave TOTAL 7.25 * Only those trails in the MATS Connectivity System. Most parks have paths and trails in addition to those listed. (ADT) = PART OF AMERICA DISCOVERY TRAIL COAST -TO-COAST (CRT) = Cedar River Trail (CVNT) - Cedar Valley Nature Trail MAINTENANCE? Fixing some problems on the HOOVER NATURE TRAI. (The section north of Ely) has been suspended pending a decision on the route of utility lines. SAFETY-COURTESY? A task force of the LCTA is working on a proposal to improve the 42 nd street crossing.? Signs are planned to reflect the changes brought about by the 2004 construction. MATS Trail System Total*: FALL, 2004 TRAIL CONNECTIONS PAGE 5

6 Viewpoint Beyond RAGBRAI Rolling countryside and small-town hospitality should make Iowa THE destination for cycling vacations. By Richard Doak EVERY YEAR, DURING THE LAST FULL WEEK OF July, RAGBRAI brings thousands of people to Iowa from all America and beyond. No other event showcases the essence of Iowa so well: the enchantment of the rolling country-side and the downhome fun of small-town hospitality. It is a great thing my colleagues John Karras and Donald Kaul started on a lark 31 years ago, but lately I ve thinking it could have been so more. Iowa could have built on the success of RAGBRAI to market our state as the bicycling mecca of the nation. Maybe we still can, and at the same time make Iowa a more enticing place to live. Think of all the places that acquired a special identity because of a home-grown event that grew into something big: Louisville and Derby, Daytona and the 500, Hawaii and the Ironman, Alaska and Iditarod. RAGBRAI did something like that for Iowa. The ride has been featured in national magazines and network television and in newspapers around the world. That s what Iowa should be capitalizing on - trying to bring even more cyclists to Iowa, not just during one week in July but throughout the cycling season. We ve preached this notion a bit on the Register s editorial page. It wouldn t take a whole lot to make Iowa the place that comes to mind when people think about bicycling vacations. Mostly, it would require construction of a lot more bike trails. The state has a reasonably good start on trails, but we shouldn t rest until we have indisputably more and better trails than any other state. Combined with Iowa s network of paved county roads (which make RAGBRAI possible), Iowa could attract families and small groups from spring through fall for cycling vac a- tions or weekends. The destination Look around the country. The regions with the strongest growth are those that are perceived as offering first-class outdoor recreation experiences. parks being planned by the state could become hubs of trail networks, with visitors exploring the countryside and small towns during the day and returning to the park at night. Cycling vacations could even be combined with golfing vacations, taking advantage of the many rural golf courses all over Iowa. Iowa doesn t have mountains or seashores, but we sure have gorgeous countryside and charming communities. In our quest for economic development, We shouldn t overlook the potential of tourism, especially if we can take advantage of a recognized niche, such as cycling. And it wouldn t be just for tourists. I would be for us, too. The need for I more and better outdoor recreation in Iowa transcends tourism. That is another thing we ve been preaching on the Register s editorial page. We ve been arguing for years that a sorely neglected piece of the state s economic development strategy is the enhancement of outdoor recreation. Look around the country: The regions with the strongest growth are those that are perceived as offering first-class outdoor recreation experiences. Companies are choosing to locate in places where their employees want to live, and those tend to be places with clean lakes and streams and lots of opportunity for outdoor adventures. Iowa could be such a place, with a special emphasis on cycling adventures. It s gratifying to note that economic-development agencies in recent years have come to see quality of life as central to attracting growth. Recent studies such as one done by researchers at Iowa State have borne out that regions with outdoor amenities are more prosperous than regions without them. Perhaps Iowa State alumni could join a crusade to create more outdoor amenities in Iowa, especially those that can best be enjoyed at 10 miles per hour in the tradition of RAGBRAI. Richard Doak ( 62 journalism, M.S. 64 history) is the editorial page editor for the Des Moines Register. He has ridden in RAGBRAI six times. VISIONS magazine Summer 2004 FALL, 2004 TRAIL CONNECTIONS PAGE 6

7 By Gail Williams In the previous issue of Trail Connections, I reported on the prairie seeding project. I am glad to report that in its very first year, the project did meet with some success. How it Went in 2004 The seed took well in some spots, and not as well in others. The Parks Department has mowed a few times to help control weeds. They did leave two beautiful stands of Black-Eyed Susans. (Please see photos at right, and on the front page of this issue. Black-Eyed Susans are thriving along the Cedar River Trail). Mowing to control weeds will continue in the area as needed over the next few years. Hopefully more plants will bloom next year, but some seed may not germinate for a few years. More Areas to be Planted The Parks Department would like to seed additional areas between 29th St. NE and J Avenue, as well as an area south around the Bluestem Landfill down to Tait Cummins. Steve Holland of the Iowa Living Roadway Trust Fund, Ames, IA, will visit in the next month or two to see how the seeded areas look. We are hoping to get additional funding from the LRTF for the other areas we would like to seed next spring, as selected by the Parks Department. Signage in the Works Signs will be placed at the prairie seeding project locales, educating trail users on the process. Currently, Cutting Edge Engraving Arts is testing out a new color process on our sign and leaving it out in the sun for about a month to make sure it doesn't fade right away. Hopefully in a few weeks, we will have two signs installed, marking the prairie. One will be placed near 42nd St., and the other near 29th Street, on either end of the planting areas. Prairie Seeding Update RENEWAL DATES on ADDRESS LABELS Please take a look at your mailing label on this newsletter. We are modifying the address labels to indicate when it is time to renew. At the top of the mailing label is the date that our records show is YOUR membership renewal date. If members will take notice of this, it will save the Association time and postage... always a good thing. - Mike Check out our website: Webmaster: joeclark@iastate.edu FALL, 2004 TRAIL CONNECTIONS PAGE 7

8 Cedar Rapids Grand Metro Loop Bike Ride By Dean Barnum This Cedar Rapids Grand Metro Loop Bike Ride is the only ride I know of that incorporates trails and low traffic streets and more or less circles the metro. Since I found it, my wife and I ride it often, as it is so enjoyable. It has a large variety of scenery and offers a number of different riding conditions. It has two options. Option 1 includes Marion and Cedar Rapids and the Marion Parks, Sac and Fox, and Cedar River Trails. Option 2 includes all of these as well as Hiawatha and Robins and the Cedar Valley Trail. The listing is detailed so it can be used without a map or so you can use it to make your own map. Many approx i- mate mileages are shown (in parenthesis) for anyone wanting to plan a ride and for those who want to ride or walk a section of the loop. There are only three potentially busy areas. The first is crossing Highway 100. It is the only busy street crossing on the ride. There are two potentially busy streets. The first is the two-block stretch of 12 th Avenue from Otis Road to 4 th Street; however, there is a sidewalk along 12 th Avenue to use. The second is C Avenue on Option 1; however, there is a sidewalk on the east side of C Avenue that goes all the way across Dry Creek. There are two steep hills. The first is on Rosedale Road and is downhill if you come from the north. The second steep hill is on Option 1. It is up one side and down the other side of Brentwood Drive. Option 1 is about 24.2 miles. Option 2 is about 27.3 miles.? I chose the trailhead of the Marion Parks Trail (0 m) in Boyson Park as the starting point; however any point along the route can be picked.? Follow the Marion Parks Trail through Boyson Park, Donnelly Park (0.8 m), and Thomas Park/Legion Park (1.3 m), to the Hanna Park parking lot (2.1 m). Dean, at the top of the steep hill on Rosedale Road.? Continue on Rosedale Road, down a steep hill (5.5 m), and a short distance to a bridge crossing Indian Creek.? Before crossing the bridge across Indian Creek (Rosedale Road Trailhead 5.9 m), turn left onto the Sac and Fox Trail.? Pass under Mount Vernon Road (7.0 m).? Follow the Sac and Fox Trail to the end of Cole Street. Trailheads are located at Bertram Road (7.3 m), Indian Creek Nature Center (7.8 m), and Cole Street (10.8 m). Shown above is the rail bridge between Donnelly and Thomas Parks.? From the Hanna Park parking lot, turn right (south) and follow the sidewalk through the park access for a block and continue south on 8 th Street two blocks to Grand Avenue.? Turn left (east) onto Grand Avenue. Follow Grand Avenue to 22 nd Street.? Turn right (south) onto 22 nd Street.? Continue south on 22 nd, crossing Highway 100 (3.3 m), to the junction (4.0 m) of 31 st and Squaw Ridge Road.? Continue on Squaw Ridge Road. Turn right (west) onto Lakeside Road (4.3 m).? Within a quarter mile, turn left (south) onto Rosedale Road (4.5 m). Jan & Dean Barnum at the Sac & Fox trailhead.? Soon after passing the Indian Creek Nature Center the trail passes under Otis Road and the Union Pacific main line. Then you see Indian Creek empty into the Cedar River.? Follow Cole Street north to Otis Road.? Turn left (west) onto Otis Road and follow it to 12 th Avenue (13.7 m).? Turn left (south) and use the sidewalk along the left side of 12 th Avenue. In about two blocks turn left onto 4 th Street.? Follow 4 th Street about a block to 14 th Avenue. FALL, 2004 TRAIL CONNECTIONS PAGE 8

9 Road.? Follow the right shoulder of Boyson Road back to the Marion Parks Trail Trailhead (24.2 m) in Boyson Park where you started. OPTION 2? Continue on the Cedar River Trail through Hiawatha to where the trail crosses Center Point Road (20.7 m)? Cross Center Point Road continue to the Boyson Road Trailhead (21.4 m) of the Cedar Valley Trail.? Follow the Cedar Valley Trail to East Main Street in Robins (23.2 m). Turn right (east) onto East Main and follow it to C Avenue (25.3 m). Along Otis Road? Turn right (south). At the 16 th Avenue Bridge, 14 th becomes 16 th Avenue.? At the north end of the 16 th Avenue Bridge (14.2 m) you connect with the Cedar River Trail.? A side trip is to cross the 16 th Avenue Bridge and follow the trail south to the Prairie Creek Trailhead, near Tate Cummins Park (round trip 5.2 miles).? Turn right north of the bridge and follow the Cedar River Trail through town. Pass 1 st Avenue (15.4 m), Cedar Lake Park (16.1 m), McLeod Park (17.5 m), and McCloud Place Trailhead (18.5 m) to the Werner Street Trailhead (19.6 m).? At Werner Street there are two options. OPTION 1? Turn right onto Werner. Cross Center Point Road. The road changes name to Dodge Road at Center Point Road.? Follow Dodge Road to the sharp turn where it becomes Ozark Street.? Follow Ozark to 48 th Street. Turn left (east) onto 48 th Street and proceed to Council Street (20.4 m).? Cross Council and follow the paved trail through Noelridge Park to Golf Street.? Jog left and continue east through the Harding Middle School parking lot.? Continue on the trail to the left of the building. Turn left about half way around the building.? You will come to Regal Avenue. Turn left onto Regal and then right onto Gateway Street.? Follow Gateway to F Avenue. Cross Collins Road (21.3 m) at the light and turn left at the first road.? Follow this road to Rockwell Drive. Turn right (north) onto Rockwell Drive.? Follow Rockwell Drive across Blairs Ferry Road, at the light, to Suburban Street.? Turn right (east) onto Suburban and proceed to Oakwood Avenue. Turn left (north) onto Oakwood and then turn right (east) onto Greenfield Street. Follow Greenfield to C Avenue (22.8 m).? Cross C Avenue and turn left (north). Using the sidewalk proceed to Brentwood Drive.? Follow Brentwood to Boyson Road. Turn right (east) onto Boyson CVT coming to East Main in Robins? Continue on what is now called East Robins Road to Princeton Drive.? Turn right onto Princeton and follow it to Hampshire Drive. Follow Hampshire to Kent Drive.? Turn right onto Kent and follow it to Cambridge Drive. Turn left (east) onto Cambridge.? Follow Cambridge to Brentwood Drive. Turn right (south) onto Brentwood.? Follow Brentwood to Boyson Road. Cross Boyson and then turn left (east) onto the sidewalk along Boyson Road.? Follow the right shoulder of Boyson Road back to the Marion Parks Trail Trailhead (27.3 m) in Boyson Park where you started. Downtown FALL, 2004 TRAIL CONNECTIONS PAGE 9

10 Text & Photos by Randy Burke, Engineer with the Linn County Conservation Department Cedar Valley Nature Trail Improvements The Cedar Valley Nature Trail in Linn County has a new look. Beginning in late August, contractors began to place two precast concrete culverts for use as road underpasses. The first culvert, a 14 x 10 x 120 unit, was placed at County Home Road. The second culvert, 12 x 10 x 80 was placed one mile north at Midway Road. Both of the underpasses help to solve major safety concerns. County Home Road is a paved, major rural thoroughfare, with large amounts of fast-moving traffic. Midway Road has very poor site distances. Dirt which was removed from the County Home Road site, was used at the Midway Road site. Additional work at the County Home Road site includes a 40-car parking area. The project was undertaken in partnership with the Linn County Board of Supervisors, Linn County Engineering, and Linn County Conservation. The majority of the funding for the project came from an ISTEA Enhancement Fund Grant. The Board of Supervisors provided the remainder of the funds and the matching funds. As of September 10, 2004, both culverts have been installed, and the roads over them completed. The county Home Road underpass has 500 long ramps on each end. These ramps will receive a layer of limestone screenings as a temporary surface. Next spring, after all the dirt has settled over the winter, both ramps will be paved to match up with the existing asphalt paving. The contractor for the project was Peterson Contractors, Inc., of Rienbeck, IA. The contract amount for the project was $309, Jim Wing photo- FALL, 2004 TRAIL CONNECTIONS PAGE 10

11 Lu Barron, Trail Supporter This newsletter is a vehicle for providing useful information to our members, including the viewpoints of our elected officials. Thus it naturally followed that organi z- ers of the Trail Connections quarterly newsletter thought it would be great to run interviews with public officials who are involved in trail development. With that in mind, Lu Barron was selected as out first interviewee. Jim Wing and Diane Handler, both past presidents of LCTA and current newsletter producers, met with Lu at a local coffee shop. Our interview follows. LCTA: Hi, Lu. Thanks for meeting with us today. You've always been a great supporter of LCTA, but before we get into that, why don't you tell us a little about your background? LB: Sure. I'm a lifelong resident of Cedar Rapids, having graduated from Washington High School. I went to college at Santa Monica College in California. After college, I went to work in the lab at ADM. After that I took a job with the Roosevelt Center for American Policy Studies. In 1989 I became Director of the Freedom Festival and did that for six years until I ran for Supervisor. LCTA: What got you interested in running for Supervisor, and what do you enjoy about it? LB: I've always been very interested in politics and it gives me an opportunity to really help people. LCTA: What do you feel are your biggest accomplishments? LB: Several that come to mind are securing an AAA bond rating since 1998, implementation of our new rural emergency address system, and organizing town hall meetings in Linn County s rural areas. LCTA: What are trail accomplishments that you've played a part in? LB: Probably getting the CVNT paved to County Home Road. I feel it will help promote year-around use. I also chair a committee to develop the Hoover Trail. LCTA: Do you personally use trails? LB: Oh yes! I walk, run, or bike the Sac & Fox Trail at least two times a week. LCTA: Are you familiar with the Waterloo/CF trails system? Would you support a one-cent option tax to help fund trails? LB: Yes. I am familiar with what they've done up there. We have a long way to go to catch up. I would support a portion of an option tax going for trail development. LCTA: What are your thoughts on the GWT becoming a part of the county park system? LB: I support this very much. I think the GWT is very beautiful. I am willing to support additional funding to help take care of maintenance, if this becomes part of our system. LCTA: Linn County has added.2 mile of multi-use recreational trails since the CVNT opened decades ago. Does this seem like a particularly small amount to you? LB: Yes. It seems ridiculously low. I applaud the efforts LCTA has made to promote additional development and I want to see our system grow. LCTA: You have been quoted twice in the newspaper as being a proponent of developing the Hoover Trail to connect the CR and Iowa City Metro area. Please elaborate and tell us what you plan to do to facilitate this becoming a reality. LB: I am chairing an intergovernmental committee on trails, composed of representatives from the Linn and Johnson County Supervisors, the Regional Planning Commission, ECICOG, City of Cedar Rapids, both County Conservation Boards, and the mayors of towns en route. We are serious about making this happen and are very confident it will. We hope to see it being built within a few years. LCTA: Thanks again, Lu, for your time and for your great support of trails in our county. Trail Counters LCTA has been monitoring trail usage for most of the summer. The average daily usage observed over the summer was as follows: Sac and Fox Trail at East Post Road = 224 CRT at Sokol Park = 378 CRT at McCloud Place = 578 CVNT at Boyson Road = 378 Plots of the daily usage are now available on the LCTA web site at org/trail_counters.html. New counters are now installed on the Cedar Lake Trail and on the Marion Trail at Boyson Road. In the near future counters will be installed on Sac and Fox Trail at Cole Street, on CVNT at County Home Road and Center Point and on Grant Wood Trail. LCTA relies on the trail users to report the trail counter readings. Whenever you pass a trail counter, please record the Count, Time, Date and Location and the data to jcwauer@mcleodusa.net. The six sets of new counter posts were made possible with the help of Storm Steel that obtained the steel at their cost and D & A Fabrication that built the posts at no charge. The post fabrication was a significant effort by D & A Fabrication. The posts cost LCTA $629. LCTA has plans for additional counter locations for next year. Benchmark, Inc. has donated $500 towards additional counter posts. The Cedar Rapids Parks Department is also building four additional sets of posts. The Parks Department built the three blue posts currently in use. FALL, 2004 TRAIL CONNECTIONS PAGE 11

12 Cedar River Trail Bridge in Place By Ron McGraw On September 4 th, 2004, the bridge to span the gap in the Cedar River Trail was lifted to the abutments on either side of the Union Pacific dual tracks in SW Cedar Rapids. There was once a railroad bridge here which carried the Illinois Central traffic. It was later taken over by the CRANDIC line. This bridge would have carried the trail traffic, but that was not to happen. Instead, the Union Pacific put in place the second set of tracks over the Cedar River. The second set was necessary because the double tracks east and west of the river were being merged into one set of tracks when they approached the river, the area being referred to as the Gauntlet. The Gauntlet caused a restriction in the amount of traffic that could be carried, causing schedule delays when two trains arrived at close to the same time. Top Photo: One of the bridge abutments, ready to hold its load. Bottom Photo: The finished product, bridge running over the double tracks. - Jim Wing photos - FALL, 2004 TRAIL CONNECTIONS PAGE 12

13 To install the second set of tracks, the old bridge had to be removed and the south-supporting abutment moved to make room. The approaches had to be raised, meaning the clearance over the tracks was increased to allow for higher loads. So instead of simple earth abutments to work around, we now had a much larger project. Extensive masonry construction had to be employed to make the project successful. It was interesting to watch while the bridge was nudged onto the tracks, lifted up a little while keeping it from touching the many power lines, spun around 180 degrees, and finally lifted up and gently fitted onto the abutments. The new bridge is about 100 feet long and has a concrete deck with security fencing on both sides. The cost of this part of the trail project was about $250,000 more than first budgeted. The vistas from the span are nice, including the big bend in the river, the Tait Cummins Park athletic fields, and the power plant. It should be a train watcher s dream. Thanks to the City of Cedar Rapids (Commissioners, Engineers, and Planners) for their persistence over the many years it took to bring the negotiations to fruition, and for coming up with the matching funds for the grant. Remember them as you ride over the 100 car freights on your way to your Southern destinations. Photos, this page: Top right: Paving / Middle right: Looking north from Hwy 30 Top left: Looking south from bridge Bottom Right: Looking north from Hwy 30 Bottom left: The bridge, being hoisted into place. - Jim Wing photos - FALL, 2004 TRAIL CONNECTIONS PAGE 13

14 Centennial Project Overview What is the Rotary Centennial project? 1. Beautifying Cedar Lake and surrounding area 2. Installing park benches, picnic tables, information kiosks, and restrooms 3. Planting trees, wild flowers, and prairie grass. 4. Installing telescope pads, an observatory deck, and a Rotary Plaza. The Purpose To commemorate Rotary International s 100 th Anniversary in 2005, Rotarians worldwide are working on projects to leave a permanent legacy in their communities. All seven Rotary clubs in the metro area (Cedar Rapids, Hiawatha, Marion, Ely, with nearly 700 members) collectively chose the Cedar Lake project. The Cost? Estimated $150,000 $200,000 (labor donated by Rotarians) Funding sources? $70,000 from Rotarians (700 area-wide Rotarians x $100 per member)? $17,000 sale of commemorative bricks at Rotary Plaza? $70,000 Hall-Perrine matching gift? $10,000 Grants from local businesses? $30,000 Donated Labor and Materials from Community Partners Estimated Time Line? May Sept.work sessions on Thursdays or Saturdays Community Partners Local Businesses:? Rinderknecht Associates? Shive Hattery Architects Engineers? Alliant Energy? Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation Construction Materials:? Crawford Quarry Company? Star Equipment Ltd.? Stetson Building Products? Rental Service Corp. and Kings Concrete/Kings Material s? The Industrial Renovation Co. (all phases of construction)? Watson Services, Palo (Trucking) Sign Productions:? Kel-Welco/White Cap Local Labor Unions? Alliant Energy? Cement Masons Local 561? Laborers Union Local 43, AFL-CIO? Iron Workers Union Local 89, AFL-CIO. Local Service Groups: Boy Scouts? Eagle Scout projects install telescope pads Trees Forever? donated trees Linn County Trails Association Hawkeye Bike Clubs Others: Alliant Energy City of Cedar Rapids? Installed permanent restrooms + water? Completed parking lot? Asphalted existing trail around entire Cedar Lake? Will plant wild flowers and prairie grass? Mow grass and trim trees? Will help maintain Informational Kiosks, regarding bike trails, the lake, and flowers. For More Information, please contact: Bill Courter, Daybreak Rotary, at (W) or (Cell) Thank you to the following trail friends for donating to LCTA in memory of my husband, Robert A. Handler: Troy and Geri Albrecht Roberta and Bob Davison Ron and Toni McGraw Jeff and Jane Schott Brian and Deb Weaver Mike and Esther Wilson Jim and Barbara Wing Bob was a great trail user and supported all the metro trail projects with enthusiasm. Frequently our vacations centered around biking and rollerblading on trails. We could hardly wait until new miles were added locally. His desire to see more trail miles, fueled my energy as the LCTA president for 4 years and our continued support of all the trail projects. Use trails, enjoy the scenery and conversations, and remember all the friends and loved ones, past and present, who make this possible. - Diane Handler FALL, 2004 TRAIL CONNECTIONS PAGE 14

15 Welcome and Thanks to These New and Renewing Members, Renewing Since June, 2004 Steven Allard Dick & Mary Allemang Nancy & Brice Anton-Jenson Ron & Catherine Baty Don Bender Anderson-Bogert Engineers John & Mary Campbell J. David & Alexandria Carey Lynne Carlson Allen Chapman Craig Clark Franklin & Patrica Conrad Zina Dotzler Ben Dukes Duane & Jean Earll Fred Easker Stan & Carol Eilers Barbara Engholm Dennis & Melissa Fagan James & Janet Federer Dick & Rosemary Felter Dennis & Grace Ferreter Keith & Tony Fletcher Molly Foshay Brian & Ellen Franklin Walter Fritchen Stephan & Jo Ellen Funk Dan & Debra Bell Geiser F. & Darlene Gorton Timothy Grady Indivual Michelle Haas Timothy Roberts Hair Studio Bradley Hauge James & Pat Healy Mark & Nancy Heathman Alice Hoffmeier Robin & Jane Hursh Eugene Jahncke Paul & Anne Jenkins Glenn & Roslyn Kalous Norman & Renee Keller Arthur & Joyce Kelsey Brian Randall & Mary Keman Roger & Christine Kirpes Shirley Klug Dr. C. P. Kolln Edward Krug Jeffery Lake Frank & Marilyn Magid Steve & Denise Maze James Monagan John & Nancy Morris Bud Moscrip Randy & Jamella Moyer Ed & Barbara Mumford Ronald & Suzanne Neil Steve & Linda Nelson Cynthia Nielsen Lee & Lisa Niemi Deanna Nurre John & Mary Nus John & Diane Rosteck Henry & Ann Royer Sandra Scaia Anthony Schubert Doug & Pat Sedlacek Stephanie Severin Jerry & Peggy Sheetz Geraldine Shepard Jon & Jean Smith Allen & Jacaui Sorensen Karie Tegeler Brian Randall & Mary Thomas Robert & Mary Thomas Mr. & Mrs. Dale Todd Mark Trumbauer David & Eileen Van Gorp John & Gretchen Van Heukelom Blairs Ferry Vision Michael & Jan Vlasak Wade Wagner Mark & Julie Walters Paul & Gail Williams David & Carol Wolf Matthew Wolf Eugene Young Jason Zabokrtsky David & Cyndia Zias Indivual The following trail supporters have donated to trail development since June, 2004 THANK YOU! Donations $1 to $25 Barbara Engholm Mark & Nancy Heathman Paul & Anne Jenkins Jeff & Jane Schott Troy & Geri Albrecht Bob & Roberta Davison $25 to $99 Don Bender Allen Chapman John & Nancy Herring Shirley Klug Mark & Julie Walters Ron & Toni McGraw Jim & Barbara Wing $100 to $199 Frieda Coonrod Bud Moscrip John & Mary Nus Brian & Debra Weaver $200 & up Ex Club Cedar Rapids M/E Wilson GCRCF fund Pepsico Foundation Mike & Esther Wilson Amy Reasner Speaks About Trails to Local Group Amy will be speaking about trails for the LCTA at the Daybreak Rotary Club on Friday, October 15, 2004 at 7 a.m. FALL, 2004 TRAIL CONNECTIONS PAGE 15

16 Your Membership in the Linn County Trails Association is Important! Membership Benefits: Subscription to Trail Connections, our quarterly newsletter. Invitations to trail events and work days. Iowa Trails Council Membership and Trails Advocate Newsletter at the and Partner membership level. Pride in creating a recreational resource for your community. TRAIL BLAZER () $100 TRAIL PARTNER () $ 35 TRAIL SCOUT () $ 20 YES! I want to follow the progress of trails in Linn County. Enclosed is my tax-deductible membership of: Please consider an additional donation for NEW TRAIL DEVELOPMENT $ Name(s): Address: City/State/Zip: I would like to help with an LCTA committee (Optional mark one or more): Grant Wood Trail Publicity and Events Fund Raising None at this time Mail donations and membership to: Linn County Trails Association PO Box 2681 Cedar Rapids, Iowa Iowa Trails Council PO Box 131 Center Point, IA ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID Center Point, IA Permit No. 7 Inside this Issue President s Message/Board Members/ Officers 1 Grant Wood Trail Report 2-3 Trail Connection Completed / Trail Safety 4 Metro Trails Status 5 Beyond RAGBRAI-Viewpoint 6 Prairie Seeding Update 7 CR Grand Metro Loop Bike Ride 8-9 Improvements to CVNT 10 Lu Barron Interview / Trail Counters 11 CRT Bridge in Place Centennial Project Overview 14 Memberships / Donations 14-15