Greenways and Trails

Best Practices Case Studies Series Tennessee Department of Transportation Long Range Planning Division SHELBY COUNTY, TENNESSEE COMMUNITY CONNECTIVITY: GREENWAYS AND TRAILS

The Shelby Farms Greenline Trail is a 7-mile paved trail for non-motorized transportation that runs from the Binghampton Community (east of Midtown Memphis) to Shelby Farms Park, a 4,500 acre green space in the heart of Shelby County. The Wolf River Greenway is a 2.7 mile corridor of protected green space in Shelby County along the Wolf River that also includes a paved pathway for bicycles and pedestrians. These trails are incredible community assets that provide new opportunities for recreation, exercise, fellowship, commuting, and healthy activity for the residents of Memphis and Shelby County, Tennessee. STEP I: BUILDING PROJECT SUPPORT • Project support for the Shelby Farms Greenline and the Wolf River Greenway was driven mainly by the Shelby Farms Parks Conservancy and the Wolf River Conservancy. • A coalition was built through numerous private and public entities including the Memphis MPO. • The public has been involved through numerous planning and public information meetings through inception and expansion of both trail systems.

STEP II: PROJECT PLANNING & DESIGN The Shelby County Greenline and the Wolf River Greenway were incorporated into the Memphis MPO’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan and The Mid-South Regional Greenprint’s Sustainability and Vision Plan. The Greenprint was awarded a HUD Regional Planning Grant to create a unified regional vision for a network of regional green spaces that improves the regional quality of life.

STEP III: PROJECT FUNDING AND IMPLEMENTATION • The Shelby Farms Park and Wolf River Conservancies are both 501(c)3 non-profit organizations that operate through donations from both public and private donors. These organizations maintain and operate their respective trail systems. • Future plans for the Wolf River Greenway aim to extend the trail system 30 miles to connect neighborhoods from downtown Memphis through the cities of Germantown and Collierville to neighboring Fayette County, Tennessee. WOLF RIVER GREENWAY FUNDING - Wolf River Greenway has received or been appropriated $8,663,540 - City of Memphis has invested Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) Funds totaling $3.7 million - Wolf River Conservancy has spent $663,000 - City of Memphis has appropriated CIP Funds of $2.2 million for future segments - Project has received $1,731,409 in Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) funding for 2014-2017 - Project has received $339,131 in Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) funding for 2014-2015 SHELBY FARMS GREENLINE FUNDING - Shelby Farms Greenline has received $7 million for acquisition of land and construction - $4.5 million for acquisition through private funds - $750,000 for construction through county funds - $1.5 million for construction through federal funds - $250,000 for construction through private funds To date, the Wolf River Greenway and Shelby Farms Greenline have received $15,633,540 for land acquisition, construction, and maintenance of the trail systems. Best Practices Case Studies Series Tennessee Department of Transportation Long Range Planning Division BENEFITS COMMUNITY CONNECTIVITY: GREENWAYS AND TRAILS

Land Use and Transportation integration is vital in coordinating Tennessee’s transportation planning and investment with local land use decisions and community visions. This integration helps guide the development of a safe and efficient statewide transportation system. TDOT’s Long Range Planning Division and Office of Community Transportation interact with local community leaders to gain a better understanding of local communities’ interests, activities, and the various comprehensive transportation planning documents and policies that are in place. By having a better understanding of local land use plans and decisions, TDOT can make more informed decisions about the state’s transportation investments, creating a more efficient and effective network for Tennesseans. Benefits of integrated land use and transportation include:

Information for this drawing was derived from the Wolf River Greenway Master Plan developed by The Greenway • Enhanced economic growth and Bartlett Team / Urban Edges Inc and Lakeland DHM Design - October 2010 *** This map was prepared by the Wolf River Conservancy 08/27/2013 ***

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Chelsea Greenline 4.3 mi (+/-) e lin een Cordova Train Depot Gr Overton-Broad & E .! • Ensured effective use of infrastructure and V Connector «¬K ) +/- mi ( 6.5 nline s Gree y Farm Shelby Farms Park Shelb government funding Harahan Bridge «¬L W o lf Ri v e • Expanded community redevelopment r Gree nway options including desired amenities Memphis Symbols Legend Existing Wolf River Greenway • Lowered emissions Proposed Wolf River Greenway Alternative Transportation Network Land Ownership Legend

Existing Greenway/Trail Memphis / Shelby County Existing Bike Lane State of TN Germantown Collierville • Safer and healthier communities Existing Dirt Trail Collierville Wolf River Greenway Proposed Greenway/Trail Germantown MS River Trail From the Mississippi River to Fayette County Wolf River Conservancy 0 0.5 1 2 3 4 • Improved quality of life for all Tennesseans Trolley Line WRC Conservation Easement Miles ® Sources: Esri, DeLorme, NAVTEQ, USGS, Intermap, iPC, NRCAN, Esri Japan, METI, Esri China (Hong Kong), Esri (Thailand), TomTom, 2013 Greenways are important because they are an active mode of transportation that provide safe connections for people walking and riding bicycles. They provide more eyes on the street which create a safer, healthier, and friendlier community. Greenways provide easy access to open space and function as linear parks while creating streets that are pleasant places. Greenways and trails provide communities with more connections and more choices.

TDOT LONG RANGE PLANNING DIVISION CONTACTS

REGION 4 REGION 3 REGION 2 REGION 1 Aury Kangelos Katy Braden Stacy Morrison Jack Qualls 901-684-5466 | [email protected] 615-532-3563 | [email protected] 423-510-1177 | [email protected] 865-594-2662 | [email protected] Carlos McCloud Larry McGoogin Kevin Herrit Nick Weander 901-684-5465 | [email protected] 615-253-2428 | [email protected] 423-510-1167 | [email protected] 865-594-2667 | [email protected]

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