Ogemaw County's
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Michigan’s Iron Belle Trail Master Plan Ogemaw County’s IRON-BELLE TRAIL MASTER PLAN 2019 Ogemaw County EDC | Acknowledgements 1 Ogemaw County’s Iron Belle Trail Master Plan ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS CONSULTANTS Scott Bell, AICP Timothy L. Lapham, P.S., P.E. Clare - West Branch FUNDED BY Michigan’s Iron Belle Trail Funding 2 Acknowledgements | Ogemaw County EDC Michigan’s Iron Belle Trail Master Plan Table of Contents Engagement Plan ........................................................................... 5 Explanation and Overview of the Trail Master Plan .................................................................. 6 Community Description ............................................................... 11 History ..................................................................................................................................... 12 Climate and Weather .............................................................................................................. 14 Physical Setting ........................................................................................................................ 15 Topography ............................................................................................................................. 17 Geology .................................................................................................................................... 18 Hydrology ................................................................................................................................ 21 Transportation ......................................................................................................................... 24 Demographics .......................................................................................................................... 26 Race Characteristics ................................................................................................................ 28 County Socioeconomic Characteristics ................................................................................... 29 Needs Assessment ....................................................................... 31 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................... 39 Design Considerations .................................................................. 40 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 41 Bicycle Trails ............................................................................................................................ 43 Shared Use Paths ..................................................................................................................... 46 Riparian Corridors.................................................................................................................... 48 Rail Trails ................................................................................................................................. 49 Water Trails ............................................................................................................................. 50 Traffic Calming ......................................................................................................................... 50 Intersections ............................................................................................................................ 51 Surfacing .................................................................................................................................. 55 Structures ................................................................................................................................ 57 Amenities ................................................................................................................................. 60 Signage .................................................................................................................................... 62 Types of signs .......................................................................................................................... 64 Maintenance ........................................................................................................................... 69 Permitting ................................................................................................................................ 74 Implementation ........................................................................... 75 Plan Implementation ............................................................................................................... 76 County Line to Rose City - Rose City Road............................................................................... 81 Rose City Area - Rose City Road .............................................................................................. 83 Rose City to Fairview Road - Rose City Road ........................................................................... 84 Forest Service Road Alternate Route ...................................................................................... 85 Fairview Road Portion - Rose City Road to West Branch (State Street) .................................. 87 Ogemaw County EDC | TOC 3 Ogemaw County’s Iron Belle Trail Master Plan State Street to M-55 - City of West Branch ............................................................................. 89 Ogemaw Township M-55 Path................................................................................................. 91 M-55 to Ogemaw Springs Area ................................................................................................ 92 Ogemaw Springs Area – Along Saginaw Street ........................................................................ 93 Railroad Right-of-Way: Saginaw Street to Meridian Road ...................................................... 94 Trail Prioritization .................................................................................................................... 95 Ogemaw County Phasing Plan ................................................................................................. 97 Potential Funding Sources ..................................................................................................... 101 Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (MNRTF)................................................... 101 The Land and Water Conservation Funds (LWCF) ................................................... 102 Transportation Enhancement Funds ....................................................................... 102 National Recreational Trails Funding Program ........................................................ 103 Recreation Improvement Fund ................................................................................ 103 American Greenways DuPont Awards Program ...................................................... 103 DALMAC Fund .......................................................................................................... 103 Recreational Equipment Incorporated (REI) Environmental Grants ....................... 104 Michigander / Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Fund ..................................................... 104 The Trust for Public Land ......................................................................................... 104 Kodak Grants Program ............................................................................................. 104 Cool Cities Grant Pilot Program ............................................................................... 105 Land Trusts ............................................................................................................... 105 Businesses & Corporations ...................................................................................... 105 Friends Groups ......................................................................................................... 105 Other Organizations ................................................................................................. 106 Individuals ................................................................................................................ 106 Foundations ............................................................................................................. 106 Grant Writing ......................................................................................................................... 108 4 TOC | Ogemaw County EDC Michigan’s Iron Belle Trail Master Plan Engagement Plan Ogemaw County EDC | Engagement Plan 5 Ogemaw County’s Iron Belle Trail Master Plan Ogemaw County engaged the residents and all those interested in the planning process in order to have maximum community input and so that there ultimately will be maximum benefit to community members and visitors using the Iron Belle Trail (IBT). The county advertised the project through various means: the county’s website, the Economic Development Corporation (EDC) website, newsletters, the local school districts, and others as identified in the process. The county has called upon appropriate stakeholders and others who may be interested in, or benefit by, the IBT project. A 2000 Michigan State University Survey about the Pere Marquette Rail- Trail found that 62% of trail users cited exercise as the primary reason for using the trail and 73% said they reported