Discovery Week Meeting Notes

Thanks for meeting with us!  We met with many groups last week and received a lot of valuable information about UAF Trails and Greenways.

We have summarized what we heard here, while more specific information was drawn on the maps we took with us.  In each meeting, the group was asked to discuss any known trail/route conflicts, opportunities they saw for a better trail network on campus, and any relating side issues that may affect this project.

Please take a minute to review the notes from the meetings you were involved with and make sure we accurately captured what was discussed.  Each meeting summary is listed in a separate post.  Any changes that need to be made to the minutes can be emailed to Laura Minski at (spelled out) lminski at corvus hyphen design.com.

Next Steps
We are currently reviewing our notes and moving into the development of a draft report, outlining recommendations for UAF Trails and Greenways.  Please continue to leave comments on the Comment Collector on this site and tell others to do so as well!

Miscellaneous Meeting

We held an additional meeting at this time to try and talk with those who had more to say or who we hadn't had a chance to meet with yet.

Attendees:

Darrin Edson

Paul Dick

Anastasia Brown

Known Trail/Route Conflicts

·        Popular lunch loop on east side of campus includes Tanana Loop Road and bike path to east of road.  This separated bike path on the east of Tanana Loop is currently serving as shuttle route to Taku. If this remains a shuttle route, a separated path should be provided

Opportunities

·        “Roll” walking trails in winter creates hard walking surface and allows maintenance to not plow

·        Metal grating on stairs, so far it is easiest material for stair maintenance

·        When Wood Center becomes dining hall, hopefully less traffic will be going down Suicide Hill from MBS (current route from MBS to Lola Tilly is popular route)

·        Biathlon/archery loop, includes trail from Ballaine Lake Rifle Road

·        Trails south of CCHRC are in generally good shape, drivable in summer months, do have poor soils

Side Notes

·        Roller Ski loop would work well around perimeter of fields, but would not provide desired grade change for training

·        UAF Maintenance sweeps bike path along Parks Highway out to Ester and bike path along Farmers Loop

Parking / Traffic Meeting

Attendees:

Anastasia Brown

Mike Schuetz

Martin Klein (by phone)

Known Trail/Route Conflicts

·        In general, better parking is needed for recreational uses.  Most who access recreational uses park on the fringe of campus which is not defined well. 

·        There is adequate parking on campus for all affiliates and community users, however there is a general misunderstanding about parking rules and regulations for affiliates and visitors.

·        Campus core is lacking connected trails, continuity

·        Road striping of bike lanes does not adequately define pathway in winter season.

·        Yukon Drive is not a very enjoyable experience for non-motorized users – could use better separation. 

·        Popular short cut is between Murie Building and MBS, behind Museum to Reichardt

·        Reichart Parking lot is often full (according to students), no plan to expand

Opportunities

·        UAF wants to encourage recreational use of the trails

·        Education and better signage would likely provide a better understanding of campus parking for visitors and affiliates

·        It was noted that Troth Yeddha' will bring more visitors to campus, this would work well with North Campus desire to have a trail head in Troth Yeddha'

·        Possible short term parking area off of N Tanana would be great for Campus Core users to quickly access North Campus trails for lunch break.

·        Virology Building has new lot that could serve possible short term parking area for this purpose as well.  This lot is currently lighted, but not yet served with plug-ins.

·        No real conflicts between campus utilities and trails at the moment

·        Would be ideal to have designated path (separated if possible) on both sides of Tanana Loop slope road.  One side is currently striped.

·        Potential for Yukon Drive to become pedestrian mall/service and shuttle access only 

Side Notes

·        In general, staff do not want to walk to their office.  Students expect to walk and generally have a less definitive opinion. 

·        Parking is free for visitors after 5pm and on weekends.  Parking is NOT free for all affiliates after 5pm and on weekends, they are expected to have the required decal.  Parking enforcement after 5pm is overseen by the police, who will ticket for public health, safety and welfare type violations.

·        In general, adequate parking is provided on campus. No real plans for lot expansion.  If more was eventually needed, Taku would likely expand first.

·        The shuttle is the provide method for getting people to their destination, not providing a parking space for every user at every location.

·        Thompson Drive parking area – Buses sometime idle in this lot.  Easy lot to service.  Master Plan for this area is unknown. Would make sense to use as parking for upgraded trails south of CCHRC.

·        These trails south of CCHRC would likely be colder than those on the ridge, during winter

·        Roller Ski area – will be hard to manage and keep people from using as a short cut, unless it is totally removed from non-motorized pathways and desired pathways.

·        Grade-separated crossing along Tanana Drive could be considered for separating pathway from roadway

Wood Center Lounge - Open House Meetings

We hosted two evening open-house style meetings at the Wood Center Lounge to listen to the student perspective on Trails and Greenways around campus and how they use them.  Opinions varied on some subjects, but all notes are listed below.

Known Trail/Route Conflicts:

·        Need better signage/destination awareness on campus

o   Don’t really know where trails are and how to use them

o   Signs can be confusing

o   Rules often misunderstood

·        Need better parking near Smith Lake, Sheep Creek Road area

·        Farmers Loop Crossing –

o   Lots of parents with kids crossing

o   Need a ped light or better/safer crossing area

·        Many intersections are dangerous

·        Wildlife/cold temps

·        Many user groups

·        Parking at SRC is very popular

·        Many don’t want to purchase parking passes

·        Lookout Point parking area is often full on weekends

·        No warming hut along longer ski routes

·        Berm of snow along south of Yukon, top of Observation Point, restricts access to Himalaya Trail area

·        Shuttle stops/buses can be crowded

Opportunities:

·        Himalaya Trails (north of Patty Center and SRC) are valued –

o   Keep the same character

o   Keep trees/naturalness

o   Keep open fields instead of parking areas

o   Could use a more developed route through this area

o   Scenery is good, ravines and small hills are nice

·        UAF is a Tree Campus USA

·        Love snowshoeing around campus

·        Death/Suicide Hill

o   This route is often avoided during icy periods

o   Some use sleds to get down

o   Stairs on Suicide Hill are good

·        Where ski trails are desired by runners/walkers, try putting running tracks on one side and ski tracks on other

·        Green bikes program is good for students and trails

·        Stairs on Alumni Drive are often used

·        Parking behind Reichardt is a favorite of students, reliable

·        Yukon has a nice view for those who are walking

·        Lighting levels are good

Side Notes:

·        ROTC – 30-40 people with headlamps

o   uses ski hut, potato field, and t-field trail in part of morning routine.  Typically meet at SRC and hike/march up t-field trail

o   also uses soccerfield

·        Tanana Loop roundabout is often icy

·        ADMA (Alaska Dog Mushing Assoc) Trails east of Farmers Loop – close proximity to campus

  

Thanks to the Daily News-Miner for stopping by as well!