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Alternatives for Coastal Development: One Site, Three Scenarios
Paths, Trails, and Sidewalks Indicator Information
In the Scenarios
All the alternative scenarios provide walking and/or biking paths and trails. In the conventional scenario, all 32,159 linear feet of paths are impervious. There is an asphalt bike path along the perimeter road and a paved trail that links the center greenspace to an east-west road leading to the large, managed park/amenity area at the north end of the property. The total cost of all trails in this scenario is $1,249,898, which includes clearing the trees from the paths, grading, and paving. It should be noted that even though the conventional scenario has the shortest length of paths and trails, the cost to develop them is the highest of the three scenarios. Since the majority of the paths and trails in the conventional scenario are bike paths, the associated width is much wider than traditional paths in the other scenarios. In addition to the larger width of the bike paths (8 ft. vs, 4 ft.), the cost of the surfacing material (asphalt vs. wood chips) used in the construction was also a factor in the higher costs of trails in the conventional scenario. The conservation scenario provides scenic mulch trails adjacent to the marsh and connecting to preserved areas in the interior, with a total of 51,900 linear feet of pervious trails. An impervious asphalt bike path (26,946 linear feet) offset from the main road connects the neighborhoods and provides easy access to neighborhood commercial areas and community docks at the north and south ends of the property. The total cost of all trails in this scenario is $736,435, which includes clearing the trees from the paths, grading, and paving or mulching. The new urbanist scenario provides the most paths. These include impervious concrete sidewalks to encourage pedestrian interaction in the villages (78,859 linear feet) and pervious mulch walking trails (48,275 linear feet) through the expansive natural open space in the center of the property. The total cost of all trails in this scenario is $777,636, which includes clearing the trees from the paths, grading, and paving or mulching. Costs for paving material in the scenarios is based on sources indicating that concrete is the most expensive, asphalt the second most expensive, and mulch the least expensive surface type. For details on how paths and trail costs were estimated for each scenario, refer to the Indicator Methods section.
What Is the Value of Paths, Trails, and Sidewalks?Paths, trails, and sidewalks provide social benefits and can be constructed so as to minimize impacts to natural resources. There are other benefits as well. Recreational Benefits Paths and trails within a community offer community members recreational opportunities close to home. Impervious paths and trails are well-suited for biking or rollerblading, and they are wheelchair-friendly. Impervious sidewalks provide safe spaces for chatting with neighbors and for walkers on foot, with strollers, or in wheelchairs. Pervious paths and trails are suitable for walking, jogging, hiking, and some biking. They can provide community members with easy access to nature and activities such as fishing or bird watching. Health Benefits The provision of paths and trails in neighborhoods can also have health benefits for community members. An increasing number of Americans are overweight or obese, and development patterns that increase dependence on automobiles could contribute to the problem. There are also potential health costs associated, as being overweight or obese is a large factor in a multitude of diseases. (Measuring the Effects of Sprawl 2003). Pedestrian-friendly options in neighborhoods provide opportunities for people to begin and continue to exercise. The Center for Disease Control reported that walking two or more miles a day may reduce the chance of premature death by 50 percent. Rather than creating developments that leave little opportunity for choosing walking or biking over automobile travel, paths and trails help create walkable neighborhoods with safe access to nearby nature as well as to a neighborhood grocery, cafe, or school. Property Values and Marketability Can paths and trails have a positive impact on a property's value? Who benefits from the increased property value? Although there is no one right answer, there is evidence to suggest that paths and trails do have a positive impact. A National Parks Service (NPS) study on The impacts of rail-trails found that for the three trails studied landowners reported that "proximity to the trails had not adversely affected the desirability or values of their properties." The Rocky Mountain Research Institute's residential survey found the public was willing to pay more for greenbelts and parks in their neighborhoods. In 1990, 48 percent of folks were willing to pay more, which is a large increase from a 1980 study in which only 16 percent of folks would be willing to pay more for these amenities (NPS). Developers can profit by marketing green amenities of their properties while increasing a community's overall value. The Trust for Public Lands (TPL) provides many examples of communities whose property values increased due to their proximity to open space. For instance, in Salem, Oregon, land next to a greenbelt was worth approximately "$1200 more per acre than land only 1,000 feet away " (1999). The National Parks Service also provides examples that support this effect. One developer donated a 50-foot-wide, seven-mile-long easement along a popular trail after being approached by a local hiking group. The easement abutted his property. After advertising that the trail would cross approximately 50 parcels, all parcels were sold within four months (1995).
What Can I Do?Developers can greatly help in the creation of paths and trails by including them as an integral part of plans for new development. New paving materials are available that are both pervious, thereby reducing runoff impacts, and durable. Local governments can encourage path and trail development by providing guidelines and incentives and removing barriers to connectivity between existing and new developments. Various resources available on trail and greenway planning, design, and management are available from the sources listed below. Grant funding and free technical assistance is also available to help support paths, trails, and greenway development. References and ResourcesThe Centers for Disease Control's National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Web site provides information and resources on the health and community benefits of trails. Ewing, Reid and Barbara A.McCann. 2003. Measuring the Effects of Sprawl: A National Analysis of Physical Activity, Obesity, and Chronic Disease. Smart Growth America Surface Transportation Policy Project. September 2003. The National Parks Service Rivers & Trails Program leverages expertise and experience to help communities set their conservation priorities and achieve their goals by providing technical assistance and helpful tools. The NOAA Coastal Services Center Funding Opportunities Web site provides information on grant and funding opportunities, including links to community based grant funding. This site also provides links to many free resources, including articles, tutorials, and tips that will help managers and staff through the grant-writing process. National Parks Service Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program. 1995. Economic Impacts of Protecting Rivers, Trails, and Greenway Corridors: A Resource Book. 4th ed. The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) provides information on the benefits of trails, several downloadable resource publications (i.e., economic benefits of trails and how to create multiuse corridors), community trail examples, and links to other resource agencies. RTC is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching America's communities and countryside by creating a nationwide network of public trails from former rail lines and connecting corridors. The Trails and Greenways Clearinghouse provides technical assistance and resources. Services are free and available to individuals, government agencies, and communities seeking to create or manage trails and greenways. The clearinghouse is supported by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy and the National Park Service's Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program. The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration provides Designing Sidewalks and Trails for Access, Part I of II: Review of Existing Guidelines and Practices as a free, downloadable resource. |
The paths and trails indicator measures the total length of walking and biking paths provided in the scenarios. The measure includes, and distinguishes between, impervious surfaces, such as traditional concrete sidewalks or asphalt bike paths, and pervious paths made of mulch or gravel that allow rain to soak into the ground below. 