The Planning Division is presenting to the City Council the ZooMontana to Riverfront Park Trail Feasibility Study with the intent to have the Council make a recommendation to the Policy Coordinating Committee (PCC).  The Council  received information regarding this study at its October 20 work session.  At the October 27 meeting, the City Council is expected to take action on the study to forward a recommendation to PCC.

This study is intended to determine the feasibility of building an approximately 4 mile greenway trail connecting existing trail segments that terminate at ZooMontana and Riverfront Park. This study describes various potential alignment alternatives with a recommended implementation approach. This study also makes recommendations for the trail and related improvements such as trailheads and interpretive sites. For this study, a greenway is defined as “a corridor of land that connects people and nature together” and a trail is defined as “a linear facility for non-motorized transportation and recreation.” The trail is intended to serve primarily as a shared-use path for pedestrians and bicyclists for recreation and commuting separated from motorized traffic. However, many alignment alternatives will parallel existing roadways with varying levels of vehicle traffic.
 
The proposed trail alignments that would complete this corridor offer options to the community for pedestrian and bicycle travel, improved mobility for residents living south of I-90, a safe route to access Elysian Elementary School, close-to-home outdoor activities, potential economic development, and health benefits. These opportunities can help residents be more active and healthy, provide additional transportation options for work and play, and encourage environmental stewardship in trail users of all ages.
 
The development of the study was managed by a project steering committee comprised of representatives from Planning, ZooMontana, City Parks, County Public Works, Montana Department of Transportation, Yellowstone River Parks Association, the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, Chamber of Commerce, BikeNet, and McCall Development.  The planning process included a public participation element that hosted two public open houses on the context and goals of the study.  Participants were able to review the history of the corridor and the proposed alignments and the theory behind those alignments.  Comment cards were provided and the consultant team of Alta Planning + Design and Peaks to Plains were able to use these comment cards to input additional information into the study. 

The study is located at the following link or hard copies may be provided to the City Council through the Planning Division:  http://www.ci.billings.mt.us/DocumentCenter/View/26344
 

City Council may:

• Approve the ZooMontana to Riverfront Park Trail Feasibility Study and forward the recommendation to the Policy Coordinating Committee through the City's PCC representative; or
• Approve the ZooMontana to Riverfront Park Trail Feasibility Study with modifications and forward the recommendation to the Policy Coordinating Committee through the City's PCC representative; or
• Disapprove the ZooMontana to Riverfront Park Trail Feasibility and forward the recommendation to the Policy Coordinating Committee through the City's PCC representative.

There should be no direct financial impact from the adopting this study.  However, it will assist with alignment identification and prioritization for near and long-term bike/pedestrian improvements for the corridor, making future project planning and design more efficient and cost effective.

Staff recommends that the City Council approve the ZooMontana to Riverfront Park Trail Feasibility Study and forward this recommendation to the Policy Coordinating Committee at its meeting on November 18, 2014.