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Ext.) s s e e M h P n tc s k S u r e a W P s D r pe e Streams (USGS) n e i Kip u r i a D r rse P ou a Trails (Lake Rim) C n olf ia G d re u n at I t k in or ar M Trails (IDNR) es P k R d ar ak oo y P O w or n og ict dia D V Lakes (USGS) , In sie as Dogwood Park Rose Hill section Phase Four - 5th St. to SR49 Br Phase Three - 11th St. to 5th St. e Wetlands (Lake Rim) Th Managed Lands (IDNR) l hoo Sc igh H nior Se rton te es Ch Miles Summary Report 0 0.25 0.5 1 Chesterton Dunes Kankakee Trail Feasibility Study rve se re P ed sh er at k W Chesterton, Indiana ee Cr e ffe Co N September 2012 Contents INTRODUCTION 1 Support for this study was TRAIL CORRIDOR VISION 2 provided by: HOW WE GOT HERE 4 INVENTORY, ANALYSIS, & CORRIDOR STUDIES 5 ROUTE ALTERNATIVES 8 BEST PRACTICES FOR REGIONAL TRAILS 12 DRAFT PREFERRED ROUTE 16 VIRTUAL TOUR 17 THE ALTERNATE NORTHERN THROUGH ROUTE 36 IMPLEMENTATION MEASURES & COST ESTIMATE 38 FEDERAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES 38 UTILITIES AS LEVERAGE FOR LOCAL MATCH 39 OTHER NON-LOCAL FUNDING SOURCES 39 ESTIMATES AND PHASING 40 NEXT STEPS 42 PAGE II | DUNES KANKAKEE TRAIL FEASIBILITY STUDY TOWN OF CHESTERTON | SEPT 2012 Introduction OVERVIEW OF STUDY OVERVIEW OF THE SUMMARY REPORT The Dunes Kankakee (DK) Trail is The summary report illustrates the proposed as a north/south multi-use, preferred alignment for the Chesterton regional destination trail that would link Dunes Kankakee Trail and processes the Indiana Dunes State Park and the to achieve it. The report includes the Kankakee River. The purpose of the Dunes trail corridor vision, goals & objectives, Kankakee Trail Corridor Feasibility Study is recommended alignment, cost estimate, to identify a preferred trail alignment from and implementation measures. These are its termination in the Town of Porter on illustrated through a number of plans, the north through the Town of Chesterton, cross-sections, and photos of recommended ultimately linking with Porter County’s amenities. segment on the south. The summary report document summarizes the planning process The report includes illustrations of the and serves as a resource for the next step analysis leading up to the preferred in the development of the Dunes Kankakee alignment, such as the mapping of assets Trail – engineering design. and challenges, the outcome of visioning activities with the public, summaries of The study is divided into three main tasks. stakeholder input, and current safety and Task I includes Initiation & Discovery. design standards for shared use paths. Task II develops the Draft Master Plan, This report also summarizes the process of which assesses three alternative routes and exploring route alternatives and the criteria is summarized in this document. Task to used to evaluate them. Alternatives III further develops the preferred route are detailed more extensively in the draft into a final master plan. Guidance from master plan, where each is illustrated with the Chesterton Dunes Kankakee Steering a route map, descriptions, existing photos, Committee, key stakeholders, Chesterton’s proposed cross-sections, and a rating based Redevelopment Commission and Town on the guiding principles. Council, and the public has been sought at each stage. Proposed typical cross-section showing the Dunes Kankakee Trail in an off-road condition. TOWN OF CHESTERTON | SEPT 2012 DUNES KANKAKEE TRAIL FEASIBILITY STUDY | PAGE 1 Trail Corridor Vision Through input from community meetings and interviews with The stakeholder key stakeholders, nine guiding principles were developed for interviews and Chesterton’s Dunes Kankakee Trail: community meetings indicated 1. User Experience a preference for: 2. Safety (modal separation) • A diversity of experience along 3. Economic Benefits the trail 4. Education/Interpretation • A connection with Coffee Creek 5. Local Connectivity • Linkage to 6. Destinations, Connections, Access the historic downtown’s shops 7. Trailheads and parks 8. Environmental Benefits • A trail that 9. Cost Effectiveness captures the character of Chesterton These guiding principles form the rating system against which trail alternatives are graded and ranked. In the next section, each of • A trail that the three alternative routes is summarized and graded according to is safe and adherence to these guiding principles. More detailed descriptions comfortable for of preliminary alternatives may be found in the draft master plan, less experienced submitted in May 2012. cyclists • A trail that will appeal to residents and tourists alike PAGE 2 | DUNES KANKAKEE TRAIL FEASIBILITY STUDY TOWN OF CHESTERTON | SEPT 2012 Early Asset Mapping “The trail should reach a variety of destinations, some recreational, but some practical (library, post office, etc) so that people can think of bicycles also as practical and sustainable transportation.” ~ Chesterton Resident, at Visioning Meeting TOWN OF CHESTERTON | SEPT 2012 DUNES KANKAKEE TRAIL FEASIBILITY STUDY | PAGE 3 How We Got Here Task 1 of the study was comprised of activities related to project initiation and discovery. The study was kicked off with the steering committee in January 2012. Throughout January and February the project team gathered background data from the Town and regional sources, made numerous site visits to document existing conditions, and conducted eight interviews with key stakeholders. The Town hosted a Visioning Meeting in February where the project team lead the public through exercises to determine the desired qualities of Chesterton’s Dunes Kankakee Trail. By the end of February, the team began to develop alternative routes for discussion with the steering committee. Team site visits with stakeholders Task 2 of the study developed three alternative alignments for the proposed trail. These alternatives and their associated cost estimates were presented to the steering committee, the public, and to the Town Council in three meetings during April and May. Feedback from these sessions guided the development of a preferred alignment with two options for a northern leg. This process was documented in the draft master plan, presented to the Chesterton Dunes Kankakee Trail steering committee in mid- June. Task 3 of the study further refined the preferred alignment and cost estimate. The final master plan was presented for review and comment to the steering committee, Redevelopment Commission, and Town Council. Getting feedback at community meeting PAGE 4 | DUNES KANKAKEE TRAIL FEASIBILITY STUDY TOWN OF CHESTERTON | SEPT 2012 INVENTORY, ANALYSIS, & CORRIDOR STUDIES Langeluttig Marsh Wetland Conservation Area k, Indian Springs Park Hawthorne Park State Park Little League Park Pratt Lake ParNewton Yost Elementary School American Legion Post 170 Thomas Centennial Park Jackson Park Robert L. Waskom Park Coffee Creek Park ChestertonChesterton Middle SchoolPark Duneland Y.M.C.A. Joseph Bailly Elementary School Westchester Intermediate School Kipper Park Westchester Liberty Trail Liberty Westchester DogwoodVictory Park Park Minature Golf Course Rail_Crossings_INDOT_IN Farmers Markets (Porter Co Ext) Schools (HAZUS) Chesterton Senior High School Hospitals (HAZUS) Religious Centers (USGS) Recreational Facilities (IDNR) Libraries (ISL) Coffee Creek Watershed Preserve railroad arc Streams (USGS) Existing Trails Trails Under Development Chesterton Trails Undefined Lakes (USGS) Chesterton Parks Brookdale Park Wetlands (IGS) Managed Lands Liberty(IDNR) Recreation Park y Intermediate and Elementary Schools Libert Macro-scale map of Chesterton showing some key assets and challenges considered during analysis. TOWN OF CHESTERTON | SEPT 2012 DUNES KANKAKEE TRAIL FEASIBILITY STUDY | PAGE 5 INVENTORY & ANALYSIS Potential connections and challenges Although a variety of types of cyclists and were mapped using GIS to help inform pedestrians were identified as potential early route studies. This mapping was users of the trail, stakeholders and residents augmented by extensive field verification agreed that the trail should be designed to and assessment. Existing elements mapped accommodate primarily recreational users as desirable trail connections include and families with children in particular. streams, parks, municipal facilities, public The American Association of State Highway lands, health care facilities, utility corridors, and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) schools, churches, business districts, and classifies recreational users and families with festival locations. Elements mapped as children as “casual or less confident riders.” challenges to trail development include AASHTO also reports that the majority of rail crossings, roads with high traffic speeds the population is classified as casual or less or volumes, wetlands, and privately owned confident riders.