Weber Pathways An Organization Overview

October 16, 2019

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Who is Weber Pathways?

The most successful trail building organization in the Northern Wasatch metropolitan area.As a promoter, enabler and implementer, we bring to life the trails and active transportation facilities that are described in community plans and promoted by community activists.Weber Pathways builds, maintains and advocates for trails to create a culture where all have places to walk, run and ride as they enjoy nature and connect with their neighbors.

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Trail promotion, planning, construction and maintenance is all we do.

As a nonprofit, we have the focus, flexibility and much less bureaucracy than governmental organizations.

We have the agility to take advantage of unexpected opportunities, so we can quickly manage a trail construction project from concept to completion.

Trails and Economic Development• Trails are irresistible and indispensable to today's most successful

communities and companies. • Communities that are most successful in today’s economy

provide residents and visitors with fantastic access to the outdoors, connected walkable urban design, healthy active living, and a growing economy that thrives in exciting environments. • Trails are essential to successful business development strategies.

Headwaters Economics reports and Utah Active Transportation Benefits Study

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Trails and Economic Development• Economic studies show that communities with trails hold their value

during economic downturn. • They incur less of an impact and recover faster.

• Easy access to urban trails promotes active living. • People with active lifestyles are healthier. • Healthier people have lower medical costs which, in turn, reduces the health

insurance costs to businesses and individuals.• Trails and open space provide a quality of life desired by today’s

workforce

Headwaters Economics reports and Utah Active Transportation Benefits Study

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Trails and the local economy

• Spending on trails has an economic multiplier effect• Jobs are created and sales tax revenue generated:• Local businesses provide Engineering and Construction jobs and materials• Trail Capital investment 2011 – 2018: $5,263,685• One-time Total Economic Output: $7,402,300• Annualized Total Economic Output: $925,288

• Goods and services sales at local outdoor recreation shops are increased.• More local restaurants and shops are enjoyed by day and overnight visitors.• 21% of Utah adults could save $1,061/yr in health care costs• Output per FTE increases as employers see reduced absenteeism

Utah Active Transportation Benefits Study

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Trails and the local economy

• People want to live in communities that have open space and easy access to nature. Trails provide that amenity.• Ogden Trails trail counter results from 2017 thru 2018 (includes all

seasons)• Average River Parkway traffic at MTC: 330 people/day

• Annualized: 120,450 users• Average 29th Trailhead traffic: 290 people/day.

• Annualized: 105,850

• In Ogden, there is a 1.4% to 1.9% house-price premium for each driving-minute closer the house is to a trailhead• 2017 published, peer-approved report by WSU Economics professors.

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Ride Count: 3585Cyclists: 1395

Ride Count: 470Cyclists: 230

29th THRide Count: 1860Cyclists: 515

BSTRide Count: 4790Cyclists: 10758/19/2019 8

Brief history of Weber Pathways

• Formed in 1995 by three community activists to build a pedestrian trail in Ogden Canyon.• Concerns for private property rights in the Canyon pointed the

founders down a different “path”.• Centennial Trail• Bonneville Shoreline Trail• Pineview Loop Pathway

• 1995 – 2010: Advocacy, fundraising, some construction• 2011 – 2019: Construction increases, maintenance projects started,

consulting support requested from other agencies

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Significant Capital Projects: 2011 thru 2018(Projects including engineering, environmental studies, construction and maintenance)

• BST North: $313,709, 11 miles natural surface• PLP – Eden Arm: $126,331, 1 mile x 8’ paved path• PLP – Middle Inlet: $227,379, 1.4 miles x 8’ paved path, 55’ x 10’

wooden bridge• PLP – Pelican Beach: $247,363• WRP – Riverdale bridge and pathway: $538,068, 110’ x 10’ steel and

concrete bridge, 2 miles x 10’ compacted gravel path• Miscellaneous trails construction, Maintenance, Noxious weed

control: $232,408

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Significant Capital Projects: 2011 thru 2018(Projects including engineering, environmental studies, construction and maintenance)

• PLP – Spring Creek Beach: $261,877, 0.5 miles x 9’ paved path• PLP – Wolf Creek Drive: $495,354, 1.9 miles x 8.5’ paved path• PLP – Winters Grove: $258,173, 0.5 miles x 10’ paved path, 60’x10’

steel and concrete bridge• North Fork Park – $60,000, 4+ miles natural surface trail for entry

level mountain bikes and snow bikes• BST Connector – Bike/Ped Tunnel: $1,000,000• PLP – Huntsville Corner: $259,459, 0.5 miles x 9’ paved path

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2019 Projects

• Wolf Creek-Eden Path• East Fork of Wheeler Creek Reconstruction• North Fork Park – New natural surface trail construction• Weber River Habitat Restoration• Various maintenance projects on natural surface trails• Tri-City Active Transportation Plan, Steering Committee member• South Weber City TLC Project Scope Development, Advisor

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Future Plans – 2020 Projects

• Hwy 39 from Winter’s Grove to Old Snowbasin Road• River Road from Hwy 162 to Liberty Park• Weber River Habitat Restoration• Weber River Parkway – South Weber trail sections• Various maintenance projects including Xterra course• Western Weber???

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Ride Count: 1060Cyclists: 420

Ride Count: 1450Cyclists: 630

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Ride Count: 1185Cyclists: 275

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Western Weber Trails

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Future Challenges

• Funding maintenance of existing facilities• WP’s ability to manage its increasing “customers”• WP’s ability to manage the complexity of the next trail segment• Need staff member with construction management degree or equivalent

• Restructuring WP staffing to reduce the need for “specialists”• Increase FTE’s from 2 to 3

• Sustainable revenue generation for wages and overhead

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Funding Considerations for Trails and Active Transportation Facilities• Funding for AT projects described in General Plans• Funding for Ogden Canyon and Ogden Valley road projects to add 2-3

foot shoulders on highways• Funding for routine maintenance of paved pathways• Funding for AT facilities as part of Hwy 39 reconstruction• Evaluate mechanism to fund WP staff member for construction

management and Active Transportation implementation

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