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!

Geophysical Institute Meeting

Attendees:

Deborah Coxon

Known Trail/Route Conflicts

·        User conflicts between dog walkers and skiers is apparent on the trails

·        Lack of lights along Tanana Loop up the slope makes it more dangerous for bikers/walkers

·        Lack of N-S connection between IARC and Butrovich

·        Intersection of Tanana Loop, Yukon Drive at Lookout Point is confusing.  Dangerous in spring when melt water from snow storage berm runs into intersection

·        Ski Hut is too close to road access to back of IARC.  Buses drop of lots of kids, youth groups in this area which has lots of pedestrian/vehicle conflicts and poor visibility due to steep slope – areas are poorly defined

·        Front parking lot at IARC is very icy during spring thaw

Opportunities

·        Could put together survey for trail users within Geophysical Institute to see how they use the trails, commute to work, etc.

·        More lighting, better trail delineation along roads could make current routes safer

Ski Team / Roller Ski Initiative Meeting

Attendees:

Scott Jerome

John Estle

Known Trail/Route Conflicts

·        There are numerous locations of use conflict on the trails, between walkers/skiers/bikers

·        Existing walking trails are not is best locations, too close to ski trails makes ski trails an easy spur path

·        Pedestrian/skier/vehicle conflict is apparent at Tanana Loop and Yukon Drive intersection.  Four points of access for vehicles (Tanana, Yukon, Lookout Point, and IARC access) with poorly marked crossings

·        Soils are a known issue for the roller ski alternative loop proposals.  The loop cannot have heaves or cracks, all proposed alternatives are in locations of relatively poor soils. 

·        There is a need for a better E-W multiuse trail from Sheep Creek Road across campus to Wood Center and Engineering Building.

·        Unsafe crossing of N Tanana near Cutler area

·        Visitors often park at SRC, then walk to Bookstore via path behind Stevens

Opportunities

·        Gate at Sheep Creek location could possibly keep commuters off of skiing trails

·        Roller ski option would be major amenity for the campus and the ski team. 

·        Possible partnership between Roller Ski loop and Terrain Park – Terrain Park snowmaking equipment could cover trail as soon as freeze up, and protect surface.

·        Lola Tilly as new bookstore location would be more visible to visitors

·        Possible partnership between Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks and UAF ski team/roller ski loop

Side Notes

·        Would be good to review what other campuses with ski trails do to minimize user conflict

·        Minimize trail crossings

·        Ski team – 20 people, meets 4-5 afternoons/week, 2.5 hours/day

·        Roller ski area - loop requires 12’ width asphalt surface, needs to be visible to minimize vandalism, no motorized traffic without snow cover, need grade change for training (along Tanana Loop is good), one way route, would be great to have direct route with SRC.  Three alternatives have been proposed, any of which would benefit the ski team.  American system of design examples for Roller Skiing would be preferred over existing European, no known official design standards exist