4.1 - Trails Staging Program |
The exact staging priorities of the trails project are beyond the scope of this plan. As a general rule, the routes in greatest demand such as arterial bikeways, school access projects, or major equestrian-hiking trails should be developed first. Specific project priorities will be proposed annually by County staff after consultation with the Trails Advisory Committee and other appropriate groups. Public involvement should be a major factor in determining yearly project priorities in order to insure that public needs are well represented. Associated support programs and facilities (Ref. 4.2, 4.3) should be given serious consideration so that an effective comprehensive trails program in initiated. After public review, preliminary engineering, and cost evaluation, yearly projects will be recommended to the Board of Supervisors for final approval. of course, various limitations may prevent realization of certain components of this plan until well into the future. As means become available, the most apparent project needs should be given priority for implementation.
Because funding for trails related projects has historically been limited, descretion should be used in the annual determination of projects which should receive funding. By encouraging donations and utilizing volunteers or "special service programs", costs to implement specific projects can be reduced. Total monies available annually may then be applied to the implementation of a greater number of projects then if volunteers had not been involved. As an example, a group of volunteers working on a hiking-equestrian trail could clear vegetation and grade the trail tread thus reducing overall project costs associated with development of that route. Money saved could then be applied to other projects and preferably to those project features which volunteers could not accomplish. The intent, as stressed throughout this plan, is that the highest priority for the use of limited available funds should be placed on those project features where volunteers or special service programs can not be utilized. This would include engineering service, acquisition of trail rights-of-way, paving road shoulders, purchase of support facility materials (Ref. 4.3), or other such project features which by necessity, require expenditure of funds. In addition to considering initial costs associated with development of specific trails, the annual budgeting process must also take into account other elements of the overall trails program. Inadequate maintenance of a trail can result in unsafe or undesireable route conditions thus reducing trail use. The County's ability to maintain and operate trails must therefore be given careful consideration (Ref. 4.2.1). Attention must also be given to the finances necessary to initiate trails related education and enforcement programs as discussed in section 4.2.2. Of course, as with trail development, volunteerism should be actively encouraged as the preferred means for initiating all needed support programs.
Construction costs of individual trail projects are very difficult to estimate until the design and engineering are completed which take into consideration the unique site characteristics of each trail. Also, construction costs are extremely unstable and past costs are poor indicators of future costs. Specific project expenses will be determined during the preparation of the annual capital improvement program on a project by project basis.
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