Memo - Trail Plan
. I I
Public Warks Depalinlent
. Mell10randu111
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
COPY: Steven C. Mielke, City Manager
Steven J. Stadler, Director of Public Works
Ray V ogtman, Parks Superintendent
FROM: Steven G. Bot, Assistant City Engineer l>bt5
DATE: January 24,2002
SUBJECT: Review' of Draft Hopkins Parks and Trails Master Plan Report at the
January 29, 2002, City Council Work Session
Background
On August 21, 2001, tl1e City Council approved an agreement for professional services
with SRF Consulting Group, Inc., to develop a community comprehensive trail and
side\valk plan for the City of Hopkins. Since the time that the agreement \vas approved,
. SRF has \vorked closely \vith City staff to develop the components of this plan.
Brochure!l\1ap
The brochure/map part oftbe project showcases the parks and trails system in Hopkins.
A draft ofthi5 brochure was presented to the Park Board and City Council in November
2001. Both the City Council and the Park Board gave very positi ve feedback on the
brochure/map and seemed genuinely exited about the project.
Master Pian Report
Tbe other critical portion of this proj eet is the development of a trail and sidewalk master
plan repOli. This report documents the City's long term vision for pedestrian and bicycle
facilities within the City of Hopkins. The master III an acts as a guide to improve the
City's existing trail system as well as to facilitate the construction of desired twi I and
sidewalks when development or road\vay projects are initiated. The report sets goals and
address such items as gaps and missing links in the City's trail system and \vhat proposed
projects would fill in these gaps and links. Other pertinent items such as user amenities,
signing, bike routes, and safe crossings are also addressed. Ultimately, having an
approved master plan shows the City's cOl11l11i tment to the implementation of a user-
friendly trail and sidewalk network, \vhieh may enhance funding and project
oppOliunities.
The draft report was presented to the Hopkins Park Board at their January 14th meeting.
. The Park Board was very enthusiastic about the product that has been produced up to this
point, and the comments they made at their meeting have been incorporated into tbe
attached draft version.
-- -- -
.
At this \vork session, staff is looking for feedback from the Council on the overall
. contents of the attached draft master plan report. The report will be presented to the
Council by SRF Consulting Group. A majority of the presentatiun will focus on the
overall goals of the master plan and the subsequent projects that are proposed to be
constructed in the future. The implementation of projects such as those identified in this
plan is typically a long-term endeavor. Staff feels that it is reasonable to set a goal of 20
years to implement the overall plan. Updates to the specifics of the plan may ultimately
need revision over this period of time. As identified in the report, the ideal time of
project implementation is in c0l1iunction with roadway improvement projects. Roadway
improvement projects as identified in the most recent err (2002-2006) have been
outlined in the report and suggested trail and sidev,ralk facility improvements are
highlighted. Staff intends to revie\v upcoming and future CIP projects for potential
implementation of projects identified in the master plan.
The report also identifies opportunities for current and future funding sources that could
be used and pursued depending 011 the proposed projects that get implemented. Design
standards and guidelines are another useful feature of the report.
Public Input and Adoption Schedule
The feedback obtained at the Council \vork session \vill be used to revise the report as
necessary. The staff is recommending that Council authorize staff to proceed to a public
input process that would include two public open house presentations of the
brochure/map and the report. Staff anticipates using local publications and the City web
. site as a means to notify the public of the open house dates and times. After
incorporating the public input received at the open houses, the Park Board and Council
will then be asked to formally adopt the plan. Following adoption of the plan, the
brochure would then be printed and distributed early in the spring.
Summan'
Staff feels that the components of the comprehensive trail and side\valk plan give the City
of Hopkim; a useful end product that proudly showcases the wonderful trail and parks
system in Hopkins and also identify areas "A/here Hopkins con effectively focus its
resources in the future.
.
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CITY OF HOPKINS
TRAIL AND SIDEWALK MASTER PLAN
Prepared For:
The City of Hopkins
1010 First Street South
Hopkins, MN 55343
.
Prepared By:
SRF Consulting Group, Inc.
One Carlson Parkway N, Suite 150
Minneapolis, MN 55447
JANUARY 2002
SRF No. 0014304
.
. INDEX
Page
INTRODUCTION................................ ......... ........ ................. ..................... ............ 1
Project Goals........... ........ ...... .... ........... ......................................... ............ 1
Study Process ..... ............. ....... ..... ..... ................. ........... ................. ..... ...... 3
EV ALUA TION OF EXISTI NG CONDITIONS .................................................... ..... 3
Preparation of Base Mapping ...... ....................... ........................ .... .... ....... 3
Regional Trails........................ .... ............. ..... ....... ....... ............................... 5
Local Trails and Sidewalks..... .nH............................. ......... .......... .............. 6
Trails and Sidewalks - Adjacent Communities........................................... 7
TRAIL AND SIDEWALK MASTER PLAN .............................................................. 7
Proposed Facilities ........ .................... ................. ..... ................ ............. ..... 7
Master Plan Concept .............. .............. n ...... ..... ............... ......................... 14
IMPLEMENTATION .............. ........... n' ......... ............... ..................... .n........ ....H... 23
Roles and Responsibilities...... ................................ ...................... ............. 23
Project Prioritization.............................n,............. .......................... ............ 23
Implementation of On-road Bicycle Routes................................................ 25
Funding........ .......................... .............................................,.. .... ............... 25
OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE ..................... .............................................. 29
SAFETY AND SECURITy............... .............................. ........................ ... ..... ........ 32
. LISTING OF TABLES
Table 1: Hennepin County Bicycle Transportation Plan Proposed Trails........... 6
Table 2: Proposed Sidewalks ....... .......... ......... ..... ... ............... ........ .............. 15
Table 3: Proposed Trails..................... ........................ .............".... .............. 15
Table 4: Proposed Trails and Sidewalks Located on Streets Included
in City's Capital Improvement Plan (2002 - 2006).............................. 24
Table 5: On-road Bicycle Route Analysis................................... .................... 26
LISTING OF FIGURES
Figure 1 : Existing Conditions............... ..... ......... ................ ................... .............. 4
Figure 2: Sidewalk Typical Sections..... ............ no ......................... ........ ............... 9
Figure 3: Trail Typical Sections ......... ............................... ............ .................... '" 10
Figure 4: Trail Typical Sections....... .... ............ .............. ................... .............. ..... 11
Figure 5: Designated Bicycle Lanes.. ..................... ....... .............. ...... .... ..... ......... 12
Figure 6: Wide Curb Lane or Shared Travel Lane Bikeway Alternatives ............. 13
Figure 7: Trail and Sidewalk Master Plan............................................................ 18
Figure 8: Proposed Facilities............ ......... .......................................................... 1 9
Figure 9: Improved Roadway Crossings ... ......... ......... ......................... ............... 20
. Figure 10: Typical Midblock Crossing Alternatives... ................... ...... .................... 21
City of Hopkins January 2002
Trail and Sidewalk Master Plan
- - --- --
. INTRODUCTION
Over a century ago, Hopkins (then named West Minneapolis) was a small village located west of
Minneapolis. Over time the metropolitan area has expanded west and encompassed Hopkins, but
the City has retained much of its small town charm and amenities that allows the community to
be a bicycle and pedestrian-friendly community. Many of the community's amenities, such as a
grid-street network with sidewalks and old railroad corridors that have been converted to multi-
use trails, provide a strong foundation upon which to build a trail and sidewalk network that can
facilitate non-motorized movement throughout the community.
The development of a trail and sidewalk master plan will document the City's desired long-term
vision for pedestrian and bicycle facilities within the City of Hopkins. The master plan will act
as a guide to facilitate the construction of desired trails and sidewalks when new development or
roadway projects are initiated. An approved master plan will also show the City"s commitment
to the implementation of a trail and sidewalk network that may enhance trail and sidewalk
funding oppOltunities.
Project Goals
The traIl and sidewalk master plan was developed to achieve the following goals:
A. Link local trails to regional trails
The City of Hopkins is fortunate to have the following regional trails pass through the
. community:
. Southwest LRT - North Conidor
. Southwest LRT - South Corridor
. Cedar Lake Trail (formerly known as the Hutchinson Spur Trail)
These trails offer pleasant, off-road conidors for both community residents and
bicycling/walking enthusiasts from around the metropolitan area. Constructed by
Three Rivers Park Uistrict (formeriy liennepin Parks) in association with the Hennepin
County Railroad Authority, these trails provide the backbone of Hopkins' trail network. It
is the intent of the City to connect as many neighborhoods to these regional trails as
feasible, as they will provide connections to regional amenities as well as destinations
within the City of Hopkins.
B. Provide non-motorized links to schools, parks, community institutions, commercial nodes
and transit nodes within the City
One of the strengths of the community is that pedestrians and bicyclists could easily access
many of the community destinations if provided adequate facilities. Many of the
community destinations are used predominantly by children or the elderly who rely more
heavily on non-motorized modes of transportation. It is the City's intent to provide trail
and sidewalk access to these institutions to enhance the safety of people traveling to them.
.
City of Hopkins January 2002
Trail and Sidewalk Master Plan Page 1
C. Provide links to major employment nodes, including commercial redevelopment sites
. Hopkins has several strong employment nodes throughout the community. The
construction of trails or sidewalks to, and through, these nodes will provide employees the
option of commuting to work using a non-motorized mode of transportation.
D. Provide links for underserved neighborhoods
There are several neighborhoods within the community that lack trail or sidewalk
connections to the regional trails and community destinations. It is the intent of the City to
provide facilities for these underserved neighborhoods.
E. Provide sidewalk connections along major thoroughfares
Most major roadways within the community are thoroughfares that provide links to
retaillcommerci all erop I oymen t destinations and movement between the City's
neighborhoods. It is important to provide transportation access for both motorists and
non-motorists along these corridors.
F. Fill in voids and address inconsistencies within the existing system
A review of existing trails and sidewalks was perlormed to see if links could be provided
between existing facilities that will enhance the entire network. The construction of several
smaller segments that fill in voids in the existing system will enhance trail continuity,
. allowing for greater mobility and the creation of trail or sidewalk loops for recreational use.
Existing facility types were also reviewed. It may be pertinent for the City to change a
sidewalk to a trail or visa versa to enhance the continuity of the system.
G. Provide for connections to trails in neighboring cities
To better serve commuters and recreational users, it is important that proposed trails and
sidewalks link with the network of adjacent communities to provide continuity and ease of
use.
H. Provide safe crossings of high volume roadways and railroads
In order to encourage use of the trail and sidewalk system, people must feel confident that
they can reach their desired destinations efficiently and safely. A number of major
roadways and railroads traverse the City of Hopkins. These are locations where the
possibility of accidents with motorized vehicles is heightened. Therefore, it is of great
importance that the design of the trails and sidewalk network provide safe crossings at
these locations.
.
City of Hopkins January 2002
Trail and Sidewalk Master Plan Page 2
I. Establish signage and orientation prototypes and guidelines
. Until the entire trail and sidewalk network is constructed, there will be gaps within the
system that may make navigation confusing. In addition, users of the regional trails should
be infonned of local trails that they could use to reach destinations within Hopkins and City
residents should be informed of prefen'ed routes to access the regional trails. A signage
system can enhance navigation of the local and regional system, as well as provide other
trail user information such as distances and location of user amenities.
J. Make recommendations for user amenities (type and location)
The experience of using trails can be greatly enhanced with the addition of user amenities
such as benches, drinking fountains and bicycle racks. Placement of these amenities at
strategic locations will aid in user comfort and increase the likelihood of repeat usage of the
trail.
Study Process
Representatives from the City's public works and Park Department met with SRF Consulting
Group, Inc. (SRF) over a course of several months to detennine the City's needs, clarify project
goals and develop the Trail and Sidewalk Master Plan. Drafts of the Master Plan were presented
at Park Board meetings and City Council work sessions. Modifications were then made to the
plan based upon the comments received at these presentations.
. EV AlUATrON OF EXISTING CONDITIONS
Preparation of Base Mapping
The first step in evaluating the existing conditions entailed the development of a comprehensive
base map that depicted regional and local pedestrianlbicycle facilities (both existing and
proposed by other agencies). In order to evaluate the adequacy of the existing facilities, they
must be examined in light of activity nodes that people are typically trying to access. Therefore,
the following City destinations were added to the base map (see Figure 1):
. Schools
. Parks and Golf Courses
. Downtown Hopkins and Retail Nodes
. Employment Nodes
. Civic Buildings (i.e., City Hall, Post Office and Library)
A number of factors must be considered when trying to evaluate the feasibility of constructing
either on-road bicycle routes or off-road paths such as traffic volumes, right-of-way widths, land
uses, existence of signalized intersections, presence of buses or trucks, topography and roadway
grades.
.
City of Hopkins January 2002
Trail and Sidewalk Master Plan Page 3
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. Once a comprehensive base map was developed, potential trails and sidewalks were identified to
meet the City's pedestrianlbicycle transportation objectives.
Regional Trails
The City of Hopkins has a strong foundation of regional trails, local trails and sidewalks from
which to build upon. As stated earlier, three regional trails traverse the City. The Southwest
LRT - South Corridor provides connections to the Midtown Greenway (in Minneapolis) to the
east and Chaska to the west. Both the Southwest LRT - North Corridor and the Cedar Lake
Trail terminate in Hopkins. The Southwest LRT - North Corridor provides a connection to
Excelsior, while the Cedar Lake Trail provides a connection to downtown Minneapolis. The
Southwest LRT trails are constructed from compacted limestone, while the Cedar Lake Trail
utilizes bituminous paving. Three trailheads associated with these trails occur within the City of
Hopkins:
. The Depot Coffee House (located just east of the TH 169 overpass over
Excelsior Boulevard)
. Southwest LRT - North Corridor Trailhead (located at the intersection of 1st Street and
8th Avenue)
. Southwest LRT - South Corridor Trailhead (located just south of Excelsior Boulevard at
8th A venue. This is also the site of the transit park and ride lot.)
. These trail heads typical1y provide trail information and parking facilities. The Depot also
provides refreshments, restrooms and a picnic area.
Hennepin County and Three Rivers Park District have developed long-range visions for bicycle
routes and greenways within the County. To ensure that the master plan developed by the City
complies with the County's trail planning, the fol1owing materials were reviewed and pertinent
trail plans reflected in the proposed master plan:
. Hennepin County Bicycle Transportation Plan (January, 1997)
. Hennepin County Bicycle Map (April, 2001)
. First Tier Trails, Greenways and Parks Master Plan - Suburban Hennepin County Regional
Park District (2000)
Table 1 lists the proposed trails within Hopkins indicated in the Hennepin County Bicycle
Transportation Plan and the current implementation status of these trails.
.
City of Hopkins January 2002
Trail and Sidewalk Master Plan Page 5
. Table 1
City of Hopkins
Hennepin County Bicycle Transportation Plan Proposed Trails
Road/Corridor Transportation Plan Status Hopkins Master Plan
Proposed Facility
Minnetonka Boulevard Bikeway No trail facilities Shown as future off-road
(On/Off Roadway) trail (south side of road)
Shady Oak Road Bikeway Striped roadway Shown as a future on-road
(On/Off Roadway) shoulders, not signed facility
as a bike route.
Hopkins Crossroads Bikeway No trail facilities Shown as a future on-road
(On/Off Roadway) facili ty
Excelsior Boulevard Bikeway Trail along south side Shown as existing trail
(Shady Oak Road to (OnJOffRoadway) of road
8th Avenue)
Blake Road Bikeway Trail constructed Shown as existing trail
(Southwest LRT to (On/Off Roadway) from Southwest LRT north of Boyce Road and
Southern City Limits) to Boyce Road. future off-road trail south of
Gravel road shoulder Boyce (west side of road)
from Boyce Road to
City limits.
Cedar Lake Trail Independent Corridor Constructed Shown as existing trail
Trail
. Southwest LRT Trails Independent Corridor Constructed Shown as existing trails
Trail
Connection between Bikeway Study perlormed Shown as future on-road
Southwest LRTs (OnJOffRoadway) facility.
(8th A venue)
Source: Hennepin Count)', SRF Consulting Group, Inc.
Loca! Trai!s and Sidewalks
Local trails are typically constmcted using bituminous paving, but several trails do exist that are
constructed from either gravel or woodchips. The City has numerous trails within City parks that
should be linked to the adjacent neighborhoods. The City also has four major existing local trails
located predominantly south of Excelsior Boulevard. As with the Southwest LRT trails, these
trails provide a strong foundation from which to build upon.
. 11th A venue (Excelsior Boulevard to Smetana Road)
. 5th Street/2nd A venue (l1th A venue to 3rd Street)
. 3rd Street/2nd Street (5th A venue to Blake Road)
. Excelsior Boulevard (Shady Oak Road to 11 th A venue)
The trail along Blake Road should be improved between the Southwest LRT trail and Excelsior
Boulevard and then extended south to the city limits. Excelsior Boulevard should be extended
. east to enhance trail continuity.
City of Hopkins January 2002
Trail and Sidewalk Master Plan Page 6
. Sidewalks are typically constructed using concrete pavement. Sidewalks in residential
neighborhoods typically are six feet wide and separated from the streets with a grass boulevard.
Sidewalks in the downtown district typically run from back of curb to building facades.
Sidewalks are predominantly built to accommodate pedestrians, even though bicyclists also often
use them. In certain areas with high concentrations of pedestrian movement (i.e., Downtown
Hopkins) usage of the sidewalks is restricted to pedestrians only. Sidewalks are predominantly
present in the historic core of the City. The later-developing residential areas and the industrial
areas, for the most part, lack sidewalk facilities.
Trail and Sidewalks - Adjacent Communities
Trail master plans and mapping were reviewed for the surrounding communities of Minnetonka,
St. Louis Park and Edina. Existing and proposed trail corridors for these communities were
mapped and compared to Hopkins' existing facilities (see Figure 1). The proposed master plan
shows linkages necessary to provide continuity of facilities between the adjacent communities.
TRAIL AND SIDEWALK MASTER PLAN
Proposed Facilities
The master plan depicts three different types of pedestrianlbicycle facilities:
. Sidewalks
. . Multi-use Trails
. On-road Bicycle Routes
The following section presents each of these facility types in more detail.
Sidewalks
It is the intent of the City to provide continuous sidewalks along one side of all the major
thoroughfares within the City. In order to encourage pedestrians to walk to activity nodes and to
make the walking experience as comfortable and safe as possible, construction of future
sidewalks should:
. Have a minimum width of six-feet in residential areas and six-feet to eight-feet wide in
non-residential areas, provided that adequate space exists.
. Be separated from the street by a five-foot wide (minimum) planted "boulevard" where
space allows. When sidewalks must be placed at the back of the curb, the sidewalk width
should be increased to eight feet.
. Be full width at transit stops. Transit shelters or benches should be located either in the
boulevard or behind the sidewalk.
. Provide handicapped curb ramps at each comer and crosswalks across major roadways or
at high-volume pedestrian crossing locations.
. Be cross-pitched toward the street at two percent (2%) ror drainage.
.
City of Hopkins January 2002
Trail and Sidewalk Master Plan Page 7
. Figure 2 graphically depicts some of these guidelines. In select locations, sidewalks may be
placed at the back of curb such as in retail areas, along streets with narrow right-of-ways and
along approaches to bridge crossings.
Multi-use Trails
Multi-use trails are off-road facilities located either in independent trail corridors (preferred) or
parallel to roadways within the road right-of-way (see Figures 3 and 4). Multi-use trails are
typically constructed with bituminous paving for ease of maintenance and comfort of users.
All existing trails should be upgraded to bituminous paving unless specific conditions warrant
bituminous as unfeasible. A number of factors must be taken into consideration when designing
a multi-use trail, including:
. Right-of-way width
. Topography
. Existing boulevard trees or other forms of vegetation
. Curb cuts and driveway crossings
. Overhead and subsurface utilities
. Proximity to adjacent buildings, home, businesses and industrial facilities
Multi-use trails typically have widths ranging from ten to 12 feet, allowing for a variety of uses,
such as walking, bicycling and in-line skating. Service vehicles are able to drive on trails of this
e width without causing undue damage. Trail widths are based upon expected llsage and available
space. In select cases, an eight-foot trail width may be considered where reduced trail use is
expected or where physical obstructions exist. Where possible, trails should be separated from
the roadway with an eight-foot wide boulevard or drainage swale. However, in limited
circumstances, trails can parallel the roadway at back of curb, separated from the road by a paved
two-foot-wide "shy zone." This two-foot zone provides a buffer between the trail users and
motorists and should be striped to delineate the edge of the trail. Curb ramps should be used at
all roadways. Trails should have a maximum of five percent (5%) blade and a cross slope of two
percent (2%) for drainage.
On-road Bicycle Routes
On-road bicycle routes are facilities where bicyclists share the roadway with vehicles.
Roads designated as bicycle routes are signed as such and need to meet design standards to
ensure that adequate width exists to safely accommodate bicyclists. Typically there are three
types of bicycle routes: designated bicycle lanes (see Figure 5), wide curb lanes and shared travel
lanes (see Figure 6). The choice of bicycle route type is typically based upon the following
factors:
. Street width
. Traffic volumes
. Vehicle speeds
. . On-street parking
City of Hopkins January 2002
Trail and Sidewalk Master Plan Page 8
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. Designated bicycle lanes entail the physical striping of a travel lane dedicated specifically for
bicycle use. Wide curb lanes and shared travel lanes are only designated with sign age.
Wide curb lanes have travel lanes that are wide enough to comfortably accommodate both
vehicles and bicyclists. Shared travel lanes should only be used on roadways with traffic
volumes of 500 or less. It is expected that vehicles will cross over slightly into the on-coming
travel lane when they encounter a bicyclist on streets utilizing shared travel lanes. Wide curb
lanes and shared travel lanes can be supplemented with "Share the Road" signage that indicates
appropriate behavior for both motorists and bicyclists.
Design Guidelines
Design guidelines for sidewalks, trails, on-road bicycle routes and roadway crossings should
incorporate safety standards recognized by both State and Federal agencies in order to provide
maximum user safety, convenience and efficiency. The following sources should be referred to
when developing design guidelines and final designs:
. Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities, prepared by the American Association of
State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), 1999
. Selecting Roadway Design Treatments to Accommodate Bicycles, Federal Highway
Administration, January 1994
. Minnesota Bicycle Transportation Planning and Guidelines, Minnesota Department of
Transportation (MnlDOT), Jtme 1996
. . State aid for Local Transportation Summary of Minimum Design Standards and Guidelines
for Off-road Bikeways, Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT), October 2000
. Minnesota Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MMUTCD), MnIDOT, 1991
Master Plan Concept
The master plan was developed to meet the goals initially established. The approach suggests
sidewalks along most the major roadways. At a minimum, all major roadways should have
either a sidewalk or multi-use trail within the road right-of-way to facilitate non-motorized
transportation. The approach for the l:1istoric core of the City predominantly utilizes sidewalks
and on-road bicycle routes, while the newer sections of town utilize multi-use trails in either
independent corridors or parallel to roadways within the road right-of-way.
Tables 2 and 3 provide brief descriptions of the proposed sidewalks and trails. A description of
proposed on-road bicycle routes can be found in table 5, later in the report.
.
City of Hopkins January 2002
Trail and Sidewalk Master Plan Page 14
Table 2
. Proposed Sidewalks
Street Name Bounding Streets Location
TH 7 North Service Drive Hopkins Crossroads to Robinwood Lane North side of service
drive
Shady Oak Road Shady Oak Nature Center to Main Street East side of street
2nd Street N 12th A venue to 11th Avenue and North side of street
10th Avenue to 9th Avenue
Minnetonka Mills Road 6th Avenue N to 5th Avenue N North side of street
~-- -.- -
11th Avenue S 5th Street S to N Landmark Trail and West side of street
South Landsmark Trail to Smetana Road
Excelsior Boulevard Harrison Avenue S to Blake Road South side of street
Blake Road TH 7 to Cambridge Street, Oxford Street East side of street
to Excelsior Boulevard, Boyce Road to
Southern City limits
lnterlachen Road(l) Excelsior Boulevard to Preston Lane West side of street
Source: SRF Consulting Group, Inc.
(I) On-road bicycle route should be examined as an alternate non-motorized route between Excelsior Boulevard
and the elementary school for this sidewalk segment.
. Table 3
Proposed Trails
--- - . ------- ----.---- ----- -..----..---
Trail Trail Termini Description
Shady Oak Nature Center Shady Oak Road (west) to NOlih edge of pond, extending
20th Avenue N (east) east to 2nd Street N
Minnehaha Creek Minnehaha Creek Preserve Cross from south side to north
(west) to City limits (east) side or creek within preserve.
Follow north side to City limits
Dakridge Road City limits (north) to TH 7 West side of road
(south)
Eisenhower School Elmo Park (west), Just south of country club
Connection School property (east) property
Elmo Service Road Eisenhower school connection East side of Elmo Service
trail (north), TH 7 (south) Road, north side of Hwy
Service Drive, west side of
12th A venue
Alice Smith School 12th Avenue N (west) to South side of TH 7
Connections 5th Avenue N (east)
Minnetonka Mills Road Burnes Park (west) to South side of street
. Cedar Lake Trail (east)
City of Hopkins January 2002
Trail and Sidewalk Master Plan Page 15
. Trail Trail Termini Description
Lake Street Connection Cedar Lake Trail (west) to Tyler Weaves through residential
Avenue (east) area between Cedar Lake Trail
and Lake Avenue N. North
side of street between Lake
A venue N and Tyler A venue.
2nd Street N.E. Existing Trail (Approx. 400 feet North side of street
west of Blake Road) to Blake
Road
Excelsior Blvd! S1. Louis Cedar Lake Trail (west) to North side of Excelsior
Street Jackson Street (east) Boulevard and S1. Louis S1.
Excelsior Boulevard Monroe Avenue S (west) to South side of road
Harrison Avenue S (east)
Excelsior Boulevard Blake Road (west) to City limits South side of road
(east)
Blake Road Boyce Road (north) to Spmce West side of street
Road (south)
5th Street S City limits (west) to 11th North side of street
Avenue S (east)
Nine Mile Creek Southwest LRT (north) to 5th East side of creek
Street S (south)
. Shady Oak Beach City limits (west), W oodhill Independent trai I corridor
Connection Court (south) and 7th Street S between 7th Street S and
(north) Woodhi11 Court with a spur to
east towards Shady Oak
Beach.
Westbrooke Way 11 th A venue S (west) to Valley South side of street
Park (east)
Smetana Road 400-foot segment west of North side of street
Westbrooke Way
7th Street Connection Cul-de-sac at east end of Trail segment to connect these
7th Street to 2nd A venue S. two streets. Will likely require
a switchback to make up grade
change between the roads.
Source: SRF Consulting Group, Inc.
.
City of Hopkins January 2002
Trail and Sidewalk Master Plan Page 16
. Master Plan Map
The master plan is presented in the form of a map that shows the following information
(see Fi gure 7):
. Existing and proposed facilities
The map utilizes different line colors to differentiate between the different facility types
and different line styles to differentiate between existing and proposed facilities. The
adjacent communities' existing and proposed facilities are also depicted to show intercity
connections.
. Activity nodes
Popular destinations, such as parks, schools, civic buildings, trailheads and the transit park
and ride are highlighted on the map to help pedestrians and bicyclist determine an
appropriate route to their desired destination.
Figure 8 highlights the City's proposed new facilities and indicates the type of facility being
proposed.
Safe Roadway Crossing
Sidewalk and trail continuity becomes an issue whenever these facilities must cross a major
roadway, whether at signalized intersections or at mid-block. Advance warning signs should be
provided for vehicles, as well as trail and sidewalk users. Adequate lighting should also exist at
. all roadway and railroad crossings. When major roadways with center medians are encountered,
the median islands should be designed to provide a safe and comfortable space to wait for traffic
signals to change. Median islands should be equipped with walk signal push buttons and could
also include ornamental paving that visually reinforces that the area is intended for pedestrian or
bicycle use. Figure 9 indicates road crossings within the City of Hopkins that are important to
maintain continuity of sidewalks, trails and bicycle routes. Many of these crossings can be
improved through safety signing, striping, lighting, paving, and in select locations, modifications
to traffic signals. The roadway crossings are broken into two categories based upon traffic
volumes, with the higher volume roads receiving wore treatJ1Jcnt. Figure 10 identifies three
approaches to providing safe mid-block crossings, utilizing signing and surface striping, based
upon roadway widths and/or traffic volumes.
Crossings of roadways under agency jurisdiction other than the City of Hopkins will require
coordination with Hennepin County or the Minnesota Department of T ran s portati on.
Coordination discussions should involve provisions for signalized pedestrian crossings and
adequate signal timing to accommodate crossing of the roadway. Traffic engineering principals
must be taken into consideration to balance the needs of both motorized and non-motorized
users. Pennits from the agencies will likely be required to any improvements within the
right-of-way.
Several existing and proposed trail and/or bicycle routes cross over active railroad tracks. These
crossings should be signed and striped in accordance with the Minnesota Manual on Uniform
Traffic Control Devices (MMUTCD). Advance signage should be provided for the trail users.
. It is desirable for all railroad crossings to be rubberized to enhance the safety and comfort of trail
users.
City of Hopkins January 2002
Trail and Sidewalk Master Plan Page 17
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. User Amenities
As stated earlier, trail amenities can greatly enhance the non-motorized travel experience and
promote repeated use. The following section briefly covers several amenities that the City
should consider implementing.
Bike Racks and Lockers
In order to encourage bicycle use, it is important to provide bicycle racks and storage lockers to
safely store bikes while they are not in use. Bike racks should be provided at all schools, parks
and trailheads. The library and activity center should also have bike racks. To encourage
regional trail users to visit downtown Hopkins, bicycle racks should be located intermittently
along Main Street either on sidewalk, in designated bicycle parking areas on the street or in the
parking lots behind the stores. If parking is located behind the stores, appropriate signage should
be provided to inform bicyclists of their existence. Bicycle lockers should be provided at the
park and ride lot to help facilitate bicycling as a viable commuting option.
Water Fountains
Drinking fountains provide an important health amenity for trail users, especially during the
summer. Drinking fountains currently exist at nine city parks. The City should consider
installing drinking fountains at the Depot Coffee House and Central Park because both of these
locations accommodate active recreational users. The City should work with Three Rivers Park
District to have drinking fountains installed at the other two trailheads within Hopkins or at a
. minimum provide signage that directs trails users to the closest source of drinking water.
Benches
Pedestrians of all ages and abilities heavily use the multi-use trails. Benches provide
opportunities to rest and enjoy the trail environment. The City should work with Three Rivers
Park District to install benches along the regional trails and should also install benches along the
local multi-use trails. Benches should be installed every 112-mile, as right of way and budget
allow. The placement of the bt:nches along transit routes eouid possibly double a1S transit stops.
SignaQe and Trail Maps
Properly designed and located sign age can significantly enhance the trail experience for users
who are unfamiliar with the area. Signs should be used to provide:
. Direction to the next trail segment when gaps exist within the network;
. Information and direction to other user amenities such as drinking fountains and bicycle
racks;
. Visual identification of the trail system; and,
. Distances to regional trails or other destinations within the City.
All of the trailheads should have maps incorporated into larger signage. Trailheads and other
significant activity nodes should also have sidewalk and trail map brochures that users can take
. wi th them.
City of Hopkins January 2002
Trail and Sidewalk Master Plan Page 22
. IMPLEMENTATION
Roles and Responsibilities
The master plan elements are divided into five groupings or categories: sidewalks, multi-use
trails, on-road bicycle routes, safe crossings and user amenities. The Hopkins Public Works
Department and Park Department will be largely responsible for the implementation of these
measures.
The Public Works Department will take lead responsibility for implementing sidewalks, on-road
bicycle routes and intersection/railroad crossings. The Park Department will take lead
responsibility for implementing user amenities. Multi-use trails could either be located in an
independent trail corridor or within a road right-of-way. Trails that will lie in independent
corridors will be the responsibility of the Park Department. Trails that lie within a road right-of-
way will likely be built as part of a road improvement project and therefore be the responsibility
of Public Works.
Safety improvements to intersections will likely by initiated by Public Works regardless if the
roadway being crossed is under the City's jurisdiction. Crossings of roadways under Hennepin
County or MnlDOT jurisdiction will require these agencies' permitting approval. Coordination
will also be necessary when the City desires to place on-road bicycle routes onto or multi-use
trails next to County or State roadways. Crossings of railroads will require coordination with the
. companies that own them. Coordination with these agencies and corporations is important to
achieve a successful project outcome.
Three Rivers Park District has jurisdiction over the regional trails. Any construction of new
regional trails would be initiated by Three Rivers Park District. Hennepin County has developed
a plan for the implementation of a bicycle transportation network. Bicycle facilities proposed for
the City of Hopkins are shown in Table l. Either the City or the County could initiate
implementation of these facilities.
Project Prioritization
The City of Hopkins has developed a capital improvement plan for the years 2002 - 2006.
A number of the CIP projects affect streets that the master plan indicates new sidewalks or trails
should be placed on or next to. Some of the projects indicate the future trail or sidewalk
component, but many do not. Street improvements such as these afford a great opportunity to
implement portions of the trail and sidewalk master plan. Project limits and funding
opportunities should be reviewed in the near future to determine if sidewalk/trail implementation
could be integrated into these projects. The following table highlights the eIP projects, along
with the proposed non-motorized facility highlighted in the master plan.
.
City of Hopkins January 2002
Trail and Sidewalk Master Plan Page 23
. Table 4
Proposed Trails and Sidewalks Located on Streets Included in
City's Capital Improvement Plan (2002 - 2006)
Year of Future Facility
Street Construction (Trail and Sidewalk Master Plan)
11th A venue South 2002 Sidewalk along west side of road
(Soo Line Bridge - Westbrooke Way)
Excelsior Boulevard 2002 . Trails north and south of Excelsior
(TH 169 - Ashley Road) (TH 169 - Hanison Avenue)
. Sidewalk south of Excelsior
(Harrison Avenue - Blake Road).
. Trail south of Excelsior
(Blake Road to Ashley Road)
13th Avenue South 2002 On-road Bicycle Route
(1st Street South - Mainstreet)
2nd Street North 2002 On-road Bicycle Route and sidewalk
(9th Avenue North - 12th Avenue along the north side of the street.
North)
2nd Street North 2003 Multi-use Trail south side of road
(21st Avenue North - Shady Oak Road)
. 2nd Street N011h 2003 On-road Bicycle Route
(5th A venue North - 6th A venue North)
5th Avenue North 2003 Sidewalk along east side of road
(Minnetonka Mills Road - TH 7)
Shady Oak Road 2003 Multi-use Trail west side of road
(Excelsior Boulevard - TH 7) (proposed by City of Minnetonka)
On or Off-road Bikeway
(Proposed by Hennepin County)
2nd Street Northeast 2004 Multi-use Trail north side of road
(Parkside Boulevard - Blake Road)
5th Street South 2005 Multi-use Trail north side of road
(11th A venue South - City boundary)
2nd Street North 2005 On-road Bicycle Route
(Park Lane - 5th A venue North)
7th Street South 2006 On-road Bicycle Route
(Cul-de-sac - 11 th A venue South)
Minnetonka Mills Road 2006 Sidewalk on south side of road
(TH 169 - 5th A venue South) On-road Bicycle Route
. Source: SRF Consulting Group, Inc. and City of Hopkins 2001-2006 Capital Improvement Plan
City of Hopkins January 2002
Trail and Sidewalk Master Plan Page 24
. For roadway segments that have on-road bicycle routes associated with them, it may not be
prudent to implement the on-road segment until the entire street length is ready for designation.
But the roadway segment design should be done to facilitate future designation (e.g., design of
storm grates).
In addition to the above-mentioned projects, the City has $10,000 budgeted for the purchase and
installation of bicycle racks for 2003. Additional analysis is required to determine the best use of
these racks. Several strong alternatives exist:
A. Downtown to promote use of this area by users of the regional trail
B. Schools or parks to encourage bicycling to these activity nodes
C. Transit park and ride to encourage non-motorized commuting
The Clr plan also provides $20,000 of funding in 2003 for regional trail connections. This
funding could be used to help fund the integration of the master plan into the above CIP projects.
Implementation of On-road Bicycle Routes
The implementation of on-road bicycle routes entails that certain design standards are complied
with to ensure adequate space on the roadway for the bicyclists. In order to obtain necessary
travel lane or bicycle lanes widths, it may necessary to remove on- street parking from one or
both sides of a street. Table 5 lists the roadways that are highlighted on the Trail and Sidewalk
Master Plan as on-road bicycle routes. Existing street conditions are provided, along with the
. route type that roadway could support. It then shows potential street configurations that would
accommodate the bicycle route. Assumptions were made regarding traffic speeds and curb
gutter widths that could have significant impacts on the ultimate roadway configurations. It is
best to maintain one bicycle route type for the length of a street to maintain ease of use.
Funding
Numerous funding sources will likely be employed to construct the trail and sidewalk facilities
proposed in the master plan. This section describes potential funding sources that may be
applied or mixed together when implementing individual projects.
Municipal
A. General Obligation Bonds could be issued by the City of Hopkins. Use of the bonds can be
exercised by the City Councilor by voter referendum.
B. Property Owner Assessments could be applied to augment other funding sources or to serve
as the primary funding agent. Similar to other assessments, annual installments would be
used to cover the capital improvement costs. The basis of assessment could occur by
various methods including:
a. Property front or side footage
b. An estimate of property benefit
c. Geographic proximity to the project, or
. d. Parcel size in square footage
City of Hopkins January 2002
Trail and Sidewalk Master Plan Page 25
Table 5
On-road Bicycle Route Analysis
Street Bounding Streets Existing Street ADT
Width (ft)
. Hopkins Crossroads TH 7 to City limits Varies 10,500-14,:
Shady Oak Road Excelsior Blvd to TH 7 Varies 12,500
17th A venue South/North Excelsior Blvd to TH 7 48' 3,600-8,6{
12th Avenue South 2nd Street South to 1st Street South 35'
12th Avenue SouthINorth 1 st Street South to 1 st Street North 34'
12th A venue North 1st Street North to TH 7 36' 2,300-4,0(
8th A venue South Excelsior Blvd to 1st Street South 36' 5,200
8th A venue South 1st Street South to Main Street 42'
8th Avenue North. Main Street to 1st Street North 44' 1,150
8th A venue North 1st Street North to 2nd Street North 36'
2nd Street North 20th Avenue North to 14th Avenue North 36'
2nd Street North 12th Avenue North to 5th Avenue North 35'
2nd Street North 5th A venue North to Park Lane 45'
Minnetonka Mills Road 12th A venue North to 5th A venue North 36'
e Minnetonka Mills Road 5th Avenue North to Campbell Drive 35' 3,000
2nd Avenue South 7th Street South to 5th Street South 48'
13th Avenue South 1 st Street South to Main Street 26'
7th Street South 14th Avenue South to 8th Avenue South 41.5' 1,250-1,1~
7th Street South 8th Avenue South to East Park Valley Drive 33.5'
7th Street South East Park VaHey Drive tu cui-de-sac 35'
7th Street South 2nd A venue South to City limits 48'
Lake Street NE Blake Road to Murphy A venue 30'
Lake Street NE Murphy Avenue to Texas Avenue 32'
Homedale Road Cul-de-sac to Excelsior Boulevard 30'
Monroe A venue South 3rd Street South to Milwaukee Street 30'
Texas A venue Lake Street NE to Division Street 45'
SOI/ree: SRF Consulting Group, Inc.
Legend: Notes:
(G) Gutter width (assumed) - need to verify in field. 1. Does not include option of widening the street.
(P) Parking width 2. Widths based upon MnlDOT and AASHTO guidelines, b;
(B) Bicycle lane width 3. Items in italics assume a slower average vehicle speed or]
(f) Travel lane width 4. Minimum bicycle lane width - adjacent to curb and gutter
. Minimum bicycle lane width - adjacent to parked cars = 5
Minimum wide curb lane width = 14 feet
Minimum shared lane width = 12 feet.
City of Hopkins
Trail and Sidewalk Master Plan
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C. Maintenance accounts for departments such as Public Works or Park Department could be
. employed for small projects
D. Capital improvement funds could be used for projects that are planned in advance and
included in the City's capital improvement plan.
E. A trail dedication ordinance could be established to provide land or funds for trail projects
as new development or redevelopment occurs.
Hennepin County Department of Transportation
Hennepin County has obligated $200,000 annually as part of a capital improvements program
(CIP). Money must be matched by the local agency on a 50/50 basis and is available on a first-
come/first served basis. Funds are allocated for construction costs only, and must be designed in
accordance with Hennepin DOT Design Standards and Guidelines.
Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT)
Municipal State Aid Funds can be employed for sidewalk and bicycle trail projects when these
facilities are constructed as part of a roadway corridor carrying the Municipal State Aid (MSA)
OT County State Aid (CSAH) designation. Numerous streets and roadways within Hopkins carry
these designations. Sidewalk and trail construction could be coordinated with the abutting
street's reconstruction when requested by the City.
. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
The Minnesota DNR has a number of grant programs for trail and related amenities. The main
DNR trail programs applicable to the City of Hopkins are:
A. Outdoor Recreation Grant Program:
The purpose of this program is to increase and enhance outdoor recreation facilities.
Eligible projects include trails and other facilities. Priorities include the acquisition,
development and redevelopment of outdoor recreation facilities.
B. Local Trail Connections Program:
The purpose of this program is to promote access between people and desirable
destinations, not to develop significant new recreation facilities. The primary purpose of
this program is to complete trail connections between where people live and significant
public recreation facilities (parks and trails). Priority will be given to residential
connections to state and regional facilities. A secondary purpose is to link existing trail
segments.
C. Regional Trail Grant Program:
The purpose of this program is to promote development of regionally significant trails, with
the primary detenninants of significance including trail length, expected use and resource
quality/attractiveness. Eligible projects include land acquisition and trail development.
.
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Trail and Sidewalk Master Plan Page 27
State Appropriations
. A. Legislative Commission for Minnesota Resources (LCMR)
The LCMR makes funding recommendations to the legislature for various environmental
and natural resource based projects. Based upon the commission's strategic priorities,
funding may be considered to assist communities with trail construction.
B. Direct Legislative Appropriations
The State Legislature has allocated funding for the acquisition and development of some
trails.
U.S. Dept. of Transportation:
Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA 21)
TEA-21 is the federal transportation bill authorizing highway, highway safety, transit and other
surface transportation programs between 1998 and 2006. In addition to highway and transit, the
bill provides for funding of bicycle and trail-related projects. The main sources are:
A. Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvements (CMAQ):
The program provides funding in areas that are designated by the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency as "non-attainment" or "maintenance" areas for ozone or carbon
monoxide, to common urban air pollutants. Funds must be spent on projects that help
reduce these pollutants, including bicycle transportation and pedestrian walkways projects.
. B. Transportation Enhancements (TE):
The purpose of this program is to encourage diverse modes of travel, foster local economic
development and bring direct benefits to communities from transportation spending.
Eligible projects include improvements to bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure and scenic
and historic preservation.
C. Recreational Trails Program:
The purpose of this program is to provide ror and maintain both non-motorized and
motorized recreational trails. Federal funds are distributed to states through a state
recreational trails advisory committee.
Metropolitan Greenways Program
This program identifies and plans for natural areas requiring protection, restoration or buffering
from future development. Trai]s may be accommodated in these areas if appropriate.
Foundations and Non-Profit Groups
Some of the major private organizations that support trail projects include the Nature
Conservancy, the Trust for Public Land and the Rai]s to Trai]s Conservancy.
.
City of Hopkins January 2002
Trail and Sidewalk Master Plan Page 28
OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE
. Facilities for pedestrians in-line skating and bicycles, are subject to debris accumulation and
surface deterioration, as well as seasonal limitations, such as snow removal that require
maintenance in order to function as they were intended and designed. Maintenance protects the
investment of Hopkins so the trails and sidewalks can continue to be used safely. Poorly
maintained facilities become unusable and a potential legal liability as bicyclists and pedestrians
who continue to use them may lisk equipment damage and injury. Others may choose not to use
poorly maintained facilities, thus compromising the facilities' intent.
To maintain the facilities' integrity, a series of maintenance practices are recommended to ensure
user protection and efficiency:
1. Bicycle facilities including multi-use trails and dedicated bicycle routes must be seasonally
swept to remove sanding materials, gravel, broken glass and other debris. Similarly,
sidewalks (especially those abutting the roadway area) also require a clean surface. It is
desirable that sweeping occur in the spring after winter sanding and plowing activities have
concluded. In addition, regular inspection should occur for litter removal or other interim
conditions. Specific recommendations include:
. Establish a seasonal sweeping schedule of all facilities, concentrating in the spring
season.
. Regularly inspect all sidewalks and trails and remove the accumulation of debris as
needed.
. . Pay special attention to facilities that abut gravel on driveways or roadways that may be
earned on sidewalks and trails.
2. Surface repairs should provide a smooth useable area free of cracks, potholes, bumps and
other physical problems. Whether the trail/sidewalk surface is bituminous or concrete,
regular maintenance must take place to make certain that the surface is uniform and free of
irregularities. Specific recommendations include:
~ Conduct a regular inspection program to determine and correct ilTegu!arities~
. Establish a citizen hotline to respond to citizen complaints in a timely manner.
. Pay special attention to bicycle facilities with the roadway area as a part of broader
roadway maintenance.
. Perform preventative maintenance arising from corrective problems such as drainage,
invasive tree roots or settling due to differing surface types.
3. Pavement overlays or reconstruction is needed as a surface deteriorates and ages. Overlays
or surface replacements are also a good opportunity to correct design inconsistencies or
make changes to improve safety. Specific recommendations include:
. Extend street overlays over the entire roadway surface for facilities including on-road
bicycle routes.
. Repair tree root encroachment or drainage issues when re-paving independent trail
. systems.
City of Hopkins January 2002
Trail and Sidewalk Master Plan Page 29
. Replace any sidewalk systems where differential settlement within the sidewalk or to
. adjacent surfaces creates the potential for tripping.
4. Selective vegetation, trimming or removal of encroachment material is always a concern
with trails and sidewalks. Specific problems often confronted include root encroachment,
tree or shrub overhangs, grass and weed populations and noxious weeds. Specific
recommendations include:
. Cut back any vegetation arching over sidewalks or trails to a dimension consistent with
bicycle use.
. Cut back or remove invasive tree roots and consider installation of root guards or other
measures.
. Selectively eradicate noxious weeds or weeds and grasses encroaching through surface
cracks.
5. Maintenance of signs, strips and other user legends are important to maintain a safe facility
and minimize liability issues. Specific recommendations include:
. Regularly inspect signs and surface painting for condition. Seasonal comprehensive
inspection should occur. Damage due to accidents, lack of maintenance, vandalism or
storms should be spot-checked.
. Respond to complaints from residents as soon as possible.
. Make certain that all signing and surface painting is provided as a component of any
. repaving or reconstruction projects.
6. Surface deterioration from drainage problems causes settlement, interim ponding and the
settling of foreign debris. These concerns pose safety issues that should be corrected on an
as-needed basis. Specific recommendations include:
. Raise the catch basins to be flush with the pavement during any pavement resurfacing.
. Modify or replace deficient drainage structures consistent with bicycle-safe grates.
. Inspect and replace faulty drains at intersections that may cause water to back up over
the curb or onto crosswalk areas.
. Inspect facilities after heavy rainstorms for ponding problems, placement of foreign
debris or other safety-related issues.
7. Multi-use trails should be regularly sea1coated to prolong their life. Sealcoat material
should be selected that allows for the trail mode provided for, including in-line skating.
Recommendations include:
. Establish a sealcoating schedule that allows for phased sealcoating of all bituminous
surfaces.
. Make certain that cautionary signs warn users of loose sealcoat material prior to the
removal of excess chip material.
.
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Trail and Sidewalk Master Plan Page 30
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8. Utility cuts by both public and private providers can lead to a rough surface or an
. inconsistent surface jf not properly back-filled and finished. Recommendations include:
. Permitting for utilities should include provisions for adequate replacement of either
bituminous or concrete smfaces.
. Public works should perform a review to ensure that consistent surfaces are restored.
9. Minnesota's heavy snowfall accumulation poses issues from multi-season use of pedestrian
and bicycle facilities. Issues of slippery conditions, snow storage and re-freeze are
prevalent even when regular snow plowing occurs. Recommendations include:
. On streets with on-road bkyc1e routes, snow should be plowed curb-to-curb.
. Sidewalks should not be used for snow storage, and coordination must exist between
street plowing and sidewalk plowing to prevent conflicts or inconsistencies.
. Within commercial areas, encourage service districts, with private vendors paid for
through property assessments, to complete comprehensive snow removal operations.
. Perform regular inspections and spot checks.
. Apply sand to those areas of sidewalk or trail where surrounding conditions
(grades, drainage, aspect, etc.) allow chronic or unusually high ice accumulation.
. Clear intersection and cross street areas of snow windrows resulting from street
plowing.
.. Respond to citizen complaints in a timely manner.
. Sidewalk and trail facilities within Hopkins will require ongoing maintenance to sustain their use
and conttibution to the community_ Coordination is vital with other agencies and the private
sector, especially during snow plowing operations. Planned, scheduled and regular maintenance
is crucial to the success and operation of the non-motorized facilities.
.
City of Hopkins January 2002
Trail and Sidewalk Master Plan Page 31
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SAFETY AND SECURITY
. Designing, operating and maintaining safe, non-motorized facilities is an essential ingredient to
the success of the Hopkins system. A substantial focus of this objective must be during the
planning and design phases of the project. However, user safety also involves ongoing security
operations, as well as ongoing education of users.
User security of the facilities will largely be focused on independent trails. This should involve
regular patrolling of the facility and spot checks of regular problem areas. Security provisions
for the regional facilities (Cedar Lake Trail and Southwest LRT Trails) will be the primary
responsibility of Three Rivers Park District and their park rangers. Clear responsibilities should
be delineated between the Hopkins Police Department and Three Rivers Park District Rangers to
determine response to specific requests, as well as the patrolling of these regional facilities.
Hopkins Police will be responsible for community level off-road trails. Signing should occur
with all trail corridors identifying the responsible policing agency and telephone numbers in case
of emergency or security questions.
User education should be seen as an intricate component of a successful non-motorized system in
Hopkins. Parallel to the development and implementation of sidewalks and trails should be a
community education program focusing upon safety and trail etiquette. The program should
include:
. Safe use of multi-use trails, including: rules of the trail, passing, mixing with other trail
modes and safe crossing of streets.
. . Bicycle use of on-street systems, including designated bike lanes and share the road
facilities, with a focus on rules of the road.
. Information pertaining to safe-street crossing at intersections.
. Signalized and unsignalized crossings.
Education programs should be provided by a number of entities. The Hopkins School District
could integrate into their reglilar cUll~culum bicycle safet)'~ programs, including in-line skating
safety. In addition, City Park and Recreation programming can host bicycle and in-line skating
"rodeos" where bicycles are checked for safety, children are taught rules of the road and trails
and bicycle helmets can be provided at a reasonable, if not subsidized, rate. Senior citizen
programs should also be considered to reaffirm user precautions and safety considerations.
.
City of Hopkins January 2002
Trail and Sidewalk Master Plan Page 32