Trails Club / Chancellor's Trail Initiative Meeting

Attendees:

Mark Oldmixton

David Fee

Natasha Pomeroy

Darrin Edson

Jason Garron

Kara Axx

Known Trail/Route Conflicts

·        ADA access in winter

·        Comfort zone, as relates to trail hierarchy

·        ‘Validation’ of existing trails, does this mean they should be upgraded if they are currently in place?

·        ROW issues with Railroad and Sheep Creek Road

·        Discourage non-motorized use of Sheep Creek Road?

·        Connect to Borough Trails, land ownership is often unknown or trails are unofficial.  Maintenance is often by community members on volunteer basis.

·        Poor soils (Sinkholes and subsurface hydrology)

·        Maintenance requirements, equipment and personnel

·        Access to CCHRC area

·        Snow machines, want powder snow in fields, generally stay off of trails

·        Ski hut is not is best location

Opportunities

·        Planned stairs to go in at Suicide Hill

·        Shuttle service serves as ADA routes around campus

·        Trails are generally lit well

·        Variety of trail types for user desires (paved vs. footpath)

·        DOT and FMATS planned and proposed bike paths

·        Connect to Borough Trails

·        Roller ski in terrain park area, seasonal separation = compatibility

·        Terrain Park may get snowmaking equipment

·        Trail user counts being collected

·        Old high school trails near Sustainable Village, offer more trail options close to campus

·        Expand ski hut to a multi-purpose facility

·        Railroad vacation, turn into rails-to-trails project?

·        Current UAF Trails app could expand to include all pedestrian connections

Side Notes

·        8’ minimum workable surface required for maintenance of trails.

·        Bridges would need to support 10,000 pounds (equipment)

·        Stairs with metal grating are best for maintenance

·        Info from Green Bikes survey is available

·        FMATS proposed trails should be reviewed and tied into this plan, they show high priority areas to include Sheep Creek Road and ped light crossing on Farmers Loop and N Tanana Dr.

·        Skijoring is not a current use on campus (old map had previously shown it as a loop around research fields)

·        Commuter trail north of Farm was originally a drainage ditch for the farm.  It is currently plowed, multiuse.  Last year buried water line in this area froze, may be due to crazy weather or plowing of road.  This is a very heavily used connection for Sheep Creek commuters and upper campus.

·        Trail maintenance stores equipment in various locations, some indoor area within Irving.

·        Trail maintenance occurs all year

·        North Campus has new sign standards (based on Campus street signs), many new signs have been ordered for trail intersections and will be installed next summer.