Agenda - Council - 03/11/2014 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Overview Since 2010, the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (MISS) and its partners have been striving to establish a seamless and recognizable alternative transportation system (ATS) that provides visitors access to the MISS and its major destinations without a car while minimizing impacts to the park's resources. The system includes existing transit infrastructure mostly owned, operated, and maintained by MISS partners. The projects included in this five-year plan outline an exciting opportunity to achieve alternative transportation goals for the MISS and to work with park partners to complete the system. The ATS currently includes existing and proposed bike share stations, transit facilities (bus, light rail, and commuter rail), the Mississippi River Trail, other bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure; nine alternative transportation nodes (key multi -modal access points to the MISS); and water access points. It also includes signage and other information that helps visitors navigate the system This document provides a list of alternative transportation projects identified by the National Park Service (NPS) and its partners to continue to develop the ATS over the next five years (2014 to 2018). For the MISS ATS to be successful, the NPS must work with partner agencies to implement alternative transportation projects that provide and improve access to and along the MISS. Accordingly, MISS must contribute funding to partner projects that align with its alternative transportation goals and criteria. These goals and criteria (listed in Appendix A) were used to evaluate and prioritize the projects listed in this document. MISS proposes funding 20 percent of the costs for each high priority partner projects, unless the project is on NPS land (i.e., at Coldwater Spring). If the project is on NPS land, MISS would fund 100 percent of the project as these projects are the highest priority for the park. Medium priority projects (listed in Appendix B) would be implemented as funding allows. MISS staff will also work with partners to seek funding for these projects. This list will be updated annually as projects are implemented and new needs are identified (i.e., new nodes, access opportunities, and infrastructure). As the ATS system evolves, new priorities may be established and/or medium priority projects upgraded. The list below reflects current priorities and needs for implementing the MISS ATS over the next five years. Mississippi River Companion Each of the projects, most of which are listed by alternative transportation node, are described below. Table 1 is a summary of the high projects evaluated by year. To qualify as a high priority project, the project must achieve at least fifteen of the goals and criteria listed in Appendix A. Medium priority projects are those that currently achieve 10 to 15 of the criteria. These medium and low priority projects January 29, 2014 — Page 1