Trail Routing Methodology

When designing the Staunton Frontier Trail route, decisions must be based on a clear methodology that incorporates and balances all of the key factors involved.  In order to achieve the most important intended impacts of the trail, these factors should weighed against each other regularly as the proposed route is plotted.  Of course, it is impossible to create a route that completely maximizes each factor, but careful consideration of all factors will help maximize the overall success of the trail.  The trail route will be plotted by using GIS technology along with site visits to identify important features and conditions on various map layers including aerial photography.  Brief descriptions of the forces which will pull or push the trail in one direction or another are listed below:

Connect the Nodes - Because there are very specific locations to be joined by the Staunton Frontier Trail for different reasons, the direction the greenway can take is not very flexible.  One way or another, the trail must link the six primary nodes previously mentioned.  This limits the ability to accommodate other routing factors, but this “connectedness” is the driving force behind the project.

Be Safe – The top responses to the Central Shenandoah Bike Survey questions - about  1) how improved bike facilities would improve the community and  2) what factors deter people from biking now - were related to safety.  The mere construction of a separate multi-use trail will improve safety by separating pedestrians and bikers from automobiles, but the trail must also be designed with safety at the top of the influencing factors.  Crossing busy streets should be avoided whenever possible, but when such intersections are necessary, they should be designed with maximum safety in mind – clearly marked crosswalks, noticeable signage, crossing lights, etc. specifically for bike and pedestrian crossings.

The Flatter the Better - In spite of all other efforts to make a greenway appealing, it will fall short of usage expectations if it is excessively strenuous for the average person – especially if it is to be enjoyed by families and older individuals.  Gypsy Hill Park’s popularity as a recreation destination stems partly from the fact that it offers a relatively flat place for people of all fitness levels to walk, jog, and bike.  Because the Staunton Frontier Trail will cover such a variety of locations throughout the city, some trail sections may be somewhat steep, but excessive slopes will be avoided or minimized with switchbacks whenever possible.  The Staunton Engineering Department’s five-foot-interval CAD topographic maps will be used to plan the trail’s grading.  As closely as possible, this plan will follow the maximum grade standards shown in Appendix Table 9.

Display and Protect Natural Beauty – The best greenways attract many users simply because they are beautiful places to be – no matter the activity.  Not only do natural landscapes attract trail users, but a true greenway is meant to preserve some of the best of a city’ outdoor environment.  The trail route should be planned to incorporate as many naturally important areas as possible in its right-of-way.  This includes streams, ponds, open fields, wooded land, special views, etc.

Go Where the People Are and Will Be – Trail success is largely dependent on how convenient the trail is to its potential users.  The route planning should take this into consideration and steer toward dense population areas when possible.  This may reduce the trail’s attractiveness in some areas or might put the trail in contact with more traffic in spots, but the facility must be as accessible to as many people as possible.

Some trail segments should be planned to run through areas where future residential developments and/or new road projects will be.  By running through or near new residential developments, the trail will become convenient to more people and will be more widely used.  Also, strips of land may be proffered by a developer for later use as part of the trail route.  If trail plans are in place prior to road building or improvements, it may be possible to fund and build a segment of trail as part of the larger transportation project.

Minimize Private Land Conflicts – To minimize the number of conflicts with private land owners and to reduce the overall cost of the trail, public land (city, county, state, and federal) will be used whenever possible and as few parcels as possible will be crossed.  However, the trail will be primarily on private land, so routing decisions will attempt to plan for minimum impact (keeping the trail on the edges of property, away from structures and other sensitive areas, etc.).  When possible, right-of-way along public roads, railroads, and utility lines should be used.  Although routing in these areas has its own issues, this can minimize the number of parties who must be negotiated with during the land acquisition stage.