2 COUNTYWIDE TRAILS MASTER PLAN PLAN INTRODUCTION AND PROCESS

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2 II II ecognizing the need for a high-quality connected network of multiuse paths and greenways for the benefit of its residents and employees, winnett ounty embarked upon the creation of a ountywide rails aster lan. he lan is the culmination of partnerships among the oard of ommissioners, ounty epartments, the ities of winnett ounty, ommunity Improvement istricts (Is), other agencies and organizations, and the public. he team assembled a catalog of trail projects that have been identified through previous planning efforts including the 14 pen pace and reenway aster lan pdate, the 17 omprehensive ransportation lan, and other trail planning efforts and worked with the roject eam to identify any important missing linkages. he trail segments were then divided by trail purpose (transportation, recreation, or hybrid) and were assessed using a set of evaluation criteria. shortlist of trails was then presented to the public for comment during the omprehensive ransportation lanning process. Following community outreach, the planning team conducted detailed costing of a subset of trail segments and developed high-level planning costs that were applied to all segments in the plan. he network was then constrained based on reasonable funding assumptions and partnerships with other governmental organizations and private institutions to develop a draft plan network. his network includes a core trail network and priority trails that could be pursued if additional funding becomes available. ublic input on proposed trails in winnett ounty. 2 I I

3 I I FF J I F I J winnett ounty epartments winnett ounty ities ommunity Improvement istricts in winnett ounty I II I F I J I I I- I I I F I J FI I J I I I I I I 3

4 I I wo basic types of trails are proposed for the winnett ounty network off-road trails and side paths that run adjacent to the roadways. hile specific characteristics have been identified for the two different trail types, each corridor will be designed with consideration given to its unique topology, right-of-way, and context. he ideal width for trails is 12 feet but in areas of anticipated higher use, trails may be designed to 14 feet wide. In locations of constrained rightof-way, trails may be constructed as narrow as 8 feet in width. FF- ff-road trails are greenways and pathways that are not located along a roadway but instead follow their own alignment or possibly a stream or utility easement. he trails are ideally 12 to 14 feet in width and typically will be constructed with concrete as well as timber bridges and boardwalks around wetlands and other environmentally-sensitive areas. hen signalized crossings of roadways are not preferred or possible, elevated or tunneled trail crossings may be considered. estrooms and parking locations may be located at trailheads and other key points along the path. ypically concrete paving imber bridge and boardwalks oncrete wall with handrails where needed ignalized roadway crossings or grade separation where needed inimal locations with lighting railhead signage, wayfinding signage, mile markers estrooms and/or parking in key locations onstruction cost per mile: $ I I

5 I I ide paths are multiuse trails that run adjacent to the roadway with a buffer separation in between. he trails are ideally 12 to 14 feet in width and typically will be constructed with asphalt. hen signalized crossings of roadways are not preferred or possible, elevated or tunneled trail crossings may be considered. ypically asphalt paving oncrete wall with handrails where needed ignalized roadway crossings or grade separations where needed ighting with luminaires railhead signage, wayfinding signage, mile markers estrooms and/or parking possible in key locations onstruction cost per mile: $ I I 5

6 I I I I hile this plan looks to expand the ounty s trails system in general, a handful of signature trails will help to create an identity for the trails system and will serve as examples of how to design and build bicycle and pedestrian facilities in winnett. hese signature trails, termed such to signify that these facilities will be the hallmarks of the network, were identified because of the importance that they have in the overall system, in regards to scale of facility, amenities, connectivity, location, and other defining features. ome winnett cities are leading the implementation of signature trails in their communities, for example ugar ill reenway and uwanee reek reenway. winnett ounty s signature trails are: arbins reenway Ivy reek reenway Ivy reek to nellville rail he oop rail orcross to ilburn rail I I F I 9 I I iedmont athway ugar ill reenway uwanee reek reenway estern winnett ikeway I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I 6 I I

7 I J he ountywide rails aster lan is an overall vision for bicycle and pedestrian facilities in winnett that may take many decades to fully implement, based on current funding levels. he success of the plan will be realized incrementally, facility-by-facility, but a few significant quick-win projects will be critical for the plan to gain momentum and to perhaps accelerate the community s desire and commitment to advance bicycle and pedestrian facilities in the ounty. hese potlight rojects illustrate the ounty s ability to catalyze bicycle/pedestrian wins for the community and were identified based on the planning team s analysis of facilities that will serve a significant portion of the ounty while being more feasible to implement than some larger-scale trails. he ountywide I I rails aster lan potlight rojects are: I II I I I I estern winnett, including erkeley ake, uluth, orcross, eachtree orners, and uwanee, I astern winnett, including oganville, I I I I I I I I I I F I I I F 7 I I JI 141 I I Z F I I I I I I I J F I I Z I I I I I I I I I I F I I I Z F I I F Z I I F F I I FF FF I I I I I I I I F I: ay reek, arbins ommunity, I arbins onservation, alm reek, ribble ill, and ines J I I I I I I XII I I I I I I I I I I I I I I Z I I I I I I I I I I I I I XII & F I I & I FIII II I XII I I I F I I I F I F I I I I I I I I I I J I F I I J I F I I I I I F I F I I I I I I I I I II 1/2 I: 11,0 people F I I I I I I I Z I I I II I I I I I I & F I : potlight miles; otalxii &miles I I FIII F JI I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I F FI I I I Z Z I I I I I I I I F J I I I I I I I I I F I I I I I J I I I I F JI I 1 1 I I I I I F I I I I I I F I miles I I I I I I I F I F I I I I I I I I F I 1 1 I I I F I I I I I I I I I I I I I I IZ F I I I II I I F I: erkeley ake ature reserve, hattahoochee iver ational ecreation I rea, uluth reenspace,.. obinson, inckneyville, ogers ridge, est winnett I I I I I I FI I I I I I I I I I I I otal I I I I FI I I I I Z I I F I I F I I F II I F I II 1/2 I: 34,400 people I I I I I I F I I I I II I I I I I JI 141 II I F I I F I I I I I F I I I : potlight miles; I I I I F F FI I I I F F I I FI I I I F F F I I 9 9 I I I I F I I I JI I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I F I I F I I I I I I I I F I F I I I 1 1 I I F I I I I XII & F I & I FIII XII I F I I XII & F I I & I FIII II I XII I I I F I I I F I F I I I I JI s I J

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9 I I I I I I II I he ore rail etwork is composed trail segments I Iof identified as part of the larger ountywide system I I 9 9 I riority rails are anticipated to be implemented after the ore rail etwork is realized. I F I I I F I I Z I Z Z I F I I 9 9 I I I I I I I I I F I I I I F I I I I F I I I F I I XII & F I & I FIII XII I I I I J I I I I I I I FF I F I I I I I F I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I F I F I I I I I I FI I I I I I I I I I I I I I I F I I 1 1 I I I I I I J J I I I I I I I II I I I I I I I I I I I I I F I I I I I I I FI F Z JI II F F I I I F I I I I JI I 141 I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I F I I I I F I F I I IZ F he hattahoochee rail etwork is a regionally significant trail (from oweta ounty north to uford am) that is expected to be implemented through a partnership among multiple agencies. I I I I I rails with artners may be built through ounty development/ redevelopment requirements or other partnerships. F I I I F I I I I I I I F I I XII I I I F II I F anticipated for initial plan implementation. lthough full implementation of the ore rail etwork may take multiple decades if considering current and likely funding XII F sources, additional financial&support may mean earlier I & I FIII implementation.

10 IIZI I I Z I s part of the development of the ountywide rails aster lan, the planning team collaborated to establish what the visual implementation of the plan will look like to define how the future trails should be designed. he renderings below provide illustrative examples of how some of the trails may be designed to coordinate with the overall system vision. I I 8 I I

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12 FI/I FI I I evelopment of a trail plan is only the first step toward implementation funding needs to be identified for individual trail segments to be designed, right-of-way to be acquired, and construction to be completed. Implementation of a network of this magnitude will require the partnership of winnett ounty, its ities and Is, and private and non-profit organizations. urrently, two ounty departments are allocating funding to trail implementation and maintenance through a combination of pecial urpose ocal ption ales axes () and operating budgets: ransportation and ommunity ervices (arks and ecreation). he two departments are allocating approximately $16 from the 17 program and estimate an additional $100 in possible future efforts through 40. hese estimations assume continuation at current levels and the commitment of future itizen roject election ommittees (s) to recommend trail funding. he ountywide rails aster lan has approximately $1 of trail projects (construction cost) with the ore etwork estimated to be $250 (not including the hattahoochee iver reenway). ased on projected contributions, additional funding sources and partners will be needed to fully realize this vision. he ounty is looking for creative ways to build trails as a part of major roadway improvement projects or along water or power easements when possible to realize cost savings. ocal funding can be leveraged to secure federal funding for regionally significant projects that connect multiple jurisdictions, activity centers, and community destinations. ities and Is have identified trail priorities as well and have the ability to use, capital budgets, or I revenues to contribute toward trail implementation. Finally, non-profits, institutions, and private entities can look for meaningful opportunities to partner with the ounty. he full realization of the trail plan also requires policy modifications. he 40 omprehensive nified lan update is underway and will consider changes that streamline and accelerate implementation, resulting in a high-quality experience for bicyclists and pedestrians. It will be essential for trail development to be incorporated as a priority and for an emphasis to be placed on potential trails along current and future utility easements in collaboration with other ounty departments. eferencing the nified evelopment rdinance will help coordinate trails through developments. olicies that require developers to build trail segments on their property should remain; sidewalks that connect trails with key destinations including schools, parks, community centers, and other assets should be constructed; and upgrades to current trails as well as ongoing trail maintenance should continue. I Installed along trails to help users determine the distance they have traversed on the facility I 5 I I I laced along roadways that run parallel to trails (typically where the trail system is visible from the roadway) to help call attention to the trail facility 10 I I

13 I/FII robust and engaging branding and wayfinding effort is critical to the success of the ountywide rails aster lan. his effort will create an identity for the system while also helping to promote usage as well as continued and enhanced investment in the system. In addition to naming trail corridors, which helps to brand specific trail segments, trail signage that leverages the newly branded system logo will further establish the system s identity. lthough a larger and more in-depth wayfinding plan is needed for full implementation, a sample of some of the possible wayfinding and branding elements are included below. ung from light posts or other tall structures to help build system identity I/FII F II I sed along trails to help guide user to points of interests, amenities, nearby cross-streets, or other destinations I railhead ark estaurant ain treet Incorporated into wayfinding amenities of partner organizations to designate the segment as part of the ounty s system; depending on partner s design, may be metal or full-color emblem I I I F I I I 11

14 I F II harlotte ash, hairman; Jace rooks, istrict 1; ynette oward, istrict 2; ommy unter, istrict 3; John eard, istrict 4 J hil oskins, eputy ounty dministrator; lenn tephens, ounty dministrator; winnett ounty epartment of ransportation: lan hapman, ewis ooksey, ince dwards, and ritton ockhart; winnett ounty epartment of ommunity ervices (arks and ecreation): ina Fleming, rant uess, arcie oore, ark atterson J winnett ounty epartment of lanning and evelopment: yndi loan winnett ounty epartment of ater esources: harles rowell, huck raham winnett unicipal ssociation: andy eacham ity of uburn: on riffith, lex itchem ity of erkeley ake: at hapman, om ozier own of raselton: Jennifer ees ity of uford: an ranch, ryan erlin ity of acula: rittni lesen ity of uluth: ill iken, argie ozin, James iker ity of rayson: llison ilkerson ity of awrenceville: ob aroni, ennis illew, teve orth, yan emillard, ayes James (on behalf of ity of awrenceville), huck arbington ity of ilburn: im onroy, ill Johnsa, oug tacks ity of oganville: ill Jones ity of orcross: Jon avis, Jeff ueller, udolph mith ity of eachtree orners: rian. Johnson, James guyen, reg amsey ity of nellville: utch anders, ustin helton, ric an tteren ity of ugar ill: roy esseche, aul adford ity of uwanee: arty llen vermore I: Jim rooks ateway I: arsha nderson omar, att ore winnett lace I: Joe llen ilburn I: awrence aiser, mory orsberger ugarloaf I: lyssa avis ond & ompany 12 I I