Resolution regarding Scott’s Branch Trail
Posted, May 12, 2011 (adopted by unanimous vote of the PedNet Coalition Board of Directors, May 10, 2011)
WHERE AS, the PedNet Coalition’s vision for Columbia is a “Healthy and active community;”
WHERE AS, the PedNet Coalition’s mission is “To encourage active travel such as walking, bicycling, and rolling a wheelchair and to promote the creation of a safe and attractive network of paths, trails and multi-modal streets that provides health, environmental, quality-of-life, and economic benefits to the city;”
WHERE AS, nature trails provide a degree of enjoyment, serenity and safety that is far superior to on-street and along-street routes – especially for children, senior citizens, disabled persons, and inexperienced cyclists – and therefore nature trails should be built whenever possible;
WHERE AS, the City of Columbia Master Transportation Plan (CATSO), the Metro 2020 Greenbelt/Trail Plan (2002), and the Imagine Columbia’s Future Visioning (2009) all endorse an extensive, interconnected and safe network of non-motorized transportation and recreational nature trails, using sidewalks only where off-street trails are not feasible;
WHERE AS, the Metro 2020 Greenbelt/Trail Plans for 2002, 2005 and 2008 (all adopted by council) show a 10’ paved “Scott’s Branch Trail” running through the western portions of Bonnie View Park and the Columbia Audubon Society property along Scott’s Branch Creek from Rollins Rd. to Dublin Park;
WHERE AS, the above plan for Scott’s Branch Trail was adopted after multiple public input meetings involving neighborhood residents, Fairview School administration and Parent-Teacher Association, the Columbia Audubon Society, and the PedNet Coalition, and on the recommendations of the Parks and Recreation and Bicycle and Pedestrian Commissions;
WHERE AS, deed restrictions related to the private donation of land to the City of Columbia for Bonnie View Park and to the Columbia Audubon Society specifically list bicycle trails as an acceptable use of the property;
WHERE AS, the voter-approved 2005 Park Sales Tax includes “Scott’s Branch Trail – Russell Property to Gillespie Bridge” as a funded project, and it is important to maintain voter confidence by following through on commitments as promised;
WHERE AS, the PedNet Coalition acknowledges and respects the Columbia Audubon Society’s vision for Bonnie View Park and their own property as a “nature sanctuary” (adopted by council in March, 2011), and their expressed concerns about the original alignment of Scott’s Branch Trail along Scott’s Branch Creek from Rollins Rd. to Dublin Park;
WHERE AS, because of the Columbia Audubon Society’s concerns, Parks and Recreation staff outlined an alternative trail route along the eastern border of Bonnie View Park, exiting the park at Weaver Street, continuing along sidewalks on Bray and Dublin Avenues, connecting to Dublin Park;
WHERE AS, the Columbia Audubon Society has recommended a second alternative trail route on sidewalks on the eastern side of Cunningham Road and the northern side of Chapel Hill Road, connecting to the intersection of Scott Boulevard and Chapel Hill Road;
WHERE AS, neighborhood residents and the PedNet Coalition have expressed concerns related to Federal Highway Administration documented safety problems associated with bicyclists riding on sidewalks across driveways and side streets without traffic control devices, as will be the case with both alternative trail routes;
WHERE AS, Parks and Recreation staff have indicated it is improbable that Park Sales Tax funds may be used for improvements to streets and sidewalks meaning there are no identified funding sources for either of these alternative trail routes;
WHERE AS, upon request of council, Parks and Recreation staff outlined a third alternative trail route along the eastern and southern borders of Bonnie View Park, southern border of Columbia Audubon Society property, and connecting to Dublin Park with switchbacks to accommodate steep grades in the Riparian corridor;
WHERE AS, there are many examples of carefully designed bicycle trails in nature parks and birding areas around the country which are excellent facilities for bringing citizens in closer contact with nature (see photo);
WHERE AS, the Columbia Audubon Society expressed concerns about the construction and existence of a wide, paved trail (a “bicycle road”) and switchbacks in the Riparian corridor being disruptive to natural flora and fauna;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED,
The board of directors of the PedNet Coalition supports and recommends a non-motorized transportation and recreational trail (the Scott’s Branch Trail) from Rollins Rd. to Dublin Park along the eastern and southern borders of Bonnie View Park, southern border of Columbia Audubon Society property, and connecting to Dublin Park, to be constructed with every possible attention to minimizing disruption of the natural ecology during and after construction. In this endeavour, sensitive areas of the trail could be 8’ wide instead of 10’ wide, could be constructed with gravel or mulch instead of concrete, could be built with the minimum number of switchbacks and smallest footprint available, and bicycles could be restricted to the main trail and prohibited from all other areas of the Audubon property. Within Dublin Park, trail surface could consist of gravel, boardwalk or other material/construction techniques recommended by Parks and Recreation staff and Columbia Audubon Society to minimize disruption in the Riparian corridor. Further, such trail could be integrated into the nature sanctuary concept by incorporating educational features that could increase the effectiveness of the nature sanctuary’s educational aspirations.
