MARYLAND TRAILS SUMMIT

MARYLAND TRAILS

WE HAVE BEEN BUSY!• It’s easy to get all bummed out and feel like

we’re stuck in the mud when it comes to trails.

• But the truth is: WE have made great progress on the trail front, and there are many groups and individuals who are making a big difference, like Kit Valentine, who passed away this winter, and who championed the Short Line Trail in Catonsville.

WHAT DO WE HAVE?• Over 1,000 miles of paved & natural surface multi-use trails on DNR lands, like the trails in Patapsco Valley State Park

• 580 miles of paved, ADA compatible trails, like the B&A Trail, Gwynn’s Falls Trail, and the Cross Island Trail, on other, non-DNR public lands

• Almost 1,000 miles of paved and unpaved county, municipal and privately-owned trails open to the public

• Over 600 miles of designated water trails

Survey Results

82%

18%

75%

75%

65%

59%

57%

56%

55%

45%

44%

43%

39%

36%

35%

34%

33%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%

Yes

No

Walking

Visiting a historical site

Picnicking

Visiting natural areas

Participating in outdoor special events

Visiting playgrounds

Swimming outdoors

Playing outdoor athletic team sports (i.e. soccer, …

Fishing

Running/jogging

Hiking/backpacking

Sledding/snow play

Bird watching / wildlife viewing

Biking (road) - on a road bike only

Tent camping

Percentage Responding

Outdoor Recreation Activities Participated In - Top Fifteen

Random Sample (Phone): N= 2800

Do Any of Your Household Member Participate in Outdoor Recreation Activities?

Survey Results

27%

27%

22%

22%

21%

19%

18%

18%

13%

13%

12%

8%

6%

4%

8%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%

Paddling (canoeing /kayaking/rafting/stand-up …

Nature programs / interpretive signage

Nature play spaces

Hunting or shooting sports (target shooting, archery)

Camping cabins

Motor boating

Mountain biking

Downhill skiing/snowboarding

RV/trailer camping (with electric/water hookups)

Horseback riding

Off-road vehicle use

Sailing

Cross country skiing/snowshoeing

Snowmobiling

Other

Percentage Responding

Outdoor Recreation Activities Participated In - Bottom Fifteen

Random Sample (Phone): N= 2800

Survey Results

91%

91%

90%

87%

84%

71%

2%

2%

2%

3%

5%

8%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Promoting healthy active lifestyles

Protecting the environment

Improving the quality of life

Preserving cultural and historic resources

Connecting people with nature

Providing an economic benefit to the State

Percentage Responding

Importance of the Following Benefits of Land Conservation and Outdoor Recreation -Percent Important vs. Not Important

Important (% 4 or 5) Not Important (% 1 or 2)

TRAIL USERS

• Hikers

• Bikers

• Equestrian

• Runners

• Off Highway Vehicles

• Boaters

ECONOMIC IMPACTS• Maryland State Park visitors directly spend more than

$567 million during their trips to State Parks, producing a total economic impact of more than $650 million annually.

• Every $1 spent on parks generates $29 in revenue.

• State park visitor spending supported more than 10,000 full-time jobs and generated more than $39 million in state and local retail, gasoline, hotel, and income taxes.

• 70 percent of spending and employment impacts are within 20 minutes of State Parks in local, "gateway communities”, often in rural settings.

STATE-WIDE NETWORK• The Goal: Connect our public lands to the

places where people live, work, shop & play.

• We have an unconnected system of trails.• We Do NOT have a state trails network!

MARYLAND TRAIL ATLAS

Maryland Trails Atlas

FINDING A TRAIL MAP• The portal to State Stat maps can be

found at: www.imap.maryland.gov

• DNR Trail Maps at:

http://www.dnr.state.md.us/map_template/trailmaps/trail_atlas.html

http://www.mdmerlin.net/mapper.html

• Maryland Department of Transportation maps:

http://www.mdot.maryland.gov/IncludedContent/New%20MDOT%20Site/tabPages/Bike_Walk.html

• Maryland Tourism Maps at: http://www.visitmaryland.org/map/Pages/

Maryland.aspx

DNR GEOPDF TRAIL MAPS

TRAIL CHALLENGES• Unsustainable Trails• Rogue Trails• Lack of Funding for Maintenance• Lack of Volunteers• Lack of Accurate Trail Data• Unsafe Gaps Between Trails• Lack of Water Access• Limited Access for the Physically Challenged

WHERE ARE THE GAPS?• We need to all agree on our trail priorities.

• What are the critical links?• State, county comprehensive and recreation

plans, and regional transportation plans rarely agree on what are the critical on-road and off-road trail links.

TRAIL FUNDING

• Transportation Alternatives

• Maryland Bikeways

• Recreational Trails Program

• Program Open Space

• Waterway Improvement Fund

RECREATIONAL TRAILS PROGRAM

• Federal Highway funds are administered by the State Highway Administration (SHA)

• Focus is on developing Motorized and Non-Motorized Recreational Trails

• Projects include: pedestrian uses (hiking, running, wheelchair); bicycling; in-line skating; equestrian; kayaking; cross country skiing; four wheel driving; off-road motorcycling; and all terrain vehicle trails

RTP FUNDING• MD gets about $1 million annually

• Capped at $30,000 for non-construction and

$40,000 for construction projects

• 80% federal funds and 20% in-kind or cash match

• 50% goes to DNR and 50% goes to non-DNR projects

BETTER COMMUNICATION• State Trails Team

• DNR/MDOT/SHA Trail Team• Land Preservation, Parks & Recreation

Plans and the Maryland Recreation Plan

• MD Bike/Ped Advisory Committee• Regional Bicycle Advisory Groups• Public & Private Trails Websites • Facebook• Twitter• On-Line Maps

PARTNERSHIPS• National Park Service – National

Heritage Trails• State Agencies – Sharing Data and

Closing the Gaps• Counties – Bike/Ped Plans and

Recreation Plans• Heritage & Tourism Heritage Offices –

Promoting Economic Tourism• Businesses – Event & Technical

Support• Trail Groups – Sustainable Trails• Rails to Trails – Developing Rail Lines

WHAT’S NEXT ?• Western Rail Trail – Phase 5• Meadow Mountain Trail – Eastern

Continental Divide Loop Trail• Garrett County Mountain Bike Hub• Potomac Heritage National Scenic

Trail• Star Spangled Banner Trail• Washington-Rochambeau

Revolutionary Route National Scenic Trail• 9/11 National Memorial Trail• Anacostia Trail• Mason Dixon Trail – Lower

Susquehanna Greenway• East Coast Greenway Trail• Three Notch Trail

WHERE TO WE GO FROM HERE?• Get on the same page regarding the state

priority trail projects• Pool Resources• Build Safe & Sustainable Trails• Utilize Utility Corridors to Close Critical Gaps• Provide Greater Access for ALL users• Help us create a state advocacy & trails network • Get outside and have some fun on a Maryland trail!