Rural and Small Community Ellen Pillsbury, regional planner Background- ARDC regional info SRTS Challenges SRTS Opportunities What’s Worked-A few examples Going Forward

Focus on all facets of the community planning . Full service planning resource Regional planning Duluth ARDC plays a Facilitation role bring entities together to work a broad range of planning issues There are 5 divisions at ARDC with two focused on land use and transportation planning. The Metropolitan Interstate Council acts as the MPO for the Duluth area. Which has completed SRTS plans for Duluth and Superior, WI The Regional Planning division covers the rest of the seven county area. A couple facts. The arrowhead region is huge over 19,000 sq. miles encompass the four counties and two reservations. With 73 cities, 175 townships make up the Region

Minnesota’s SRTS Program International Falls, MN ARDC has been initiated the program’s implementation in the region. By contacting the independent school district in the region and applying on their behalf. We are currently in 2009 application process MN is expected to receive $8 million over the life of SAFETEA-LU (2009) ’05$830,400.00- ’06 $1,211,509.20-’07$1,612,641.25-’08$1,975,488.40 (will be awarded in February) Projects need to be completed with in two years Individual grants ranges are in () Infrastructure projects total $1.5 million Non-infrastructure projects total $250,000 Projects are reimbursed 100% 2009 expected funding-$2,495,529.45 70% infrastructure ($10,000-$175, 000) 10% non-infrastructure ($10,000-$20,000) 20% either category International Falls, MN

Realities And Challenges Hill City, MN Hill City, MN Realities We work closely with superintendents and principals who are most interested in finding infrastructure funding Distances and low population densities Challenges PTA/PTO are not active in most communities we work with Learning Curve Promotion Hill City, MN

International Falls, MN Opportunities Hibbing, MN The decision makers are at the table The biggest opportunity we have is raise awareness, this is a new way to thinking for many Most schools are generally in a walkable/bikeable locations There are plenty of quick fixes which can spur more enthusiasm SRTS committees City staff ISD staff Hard to attract the parent and citizen champions needed to push implementation International Falls, MN

Planning Process Start-up and Visioning Existing Conditions Steering committee Existing Conditions Surveying Draft Plan Recommendations Finalize Plan Our plan budgets are $12,000-$15,000 The process we have used is quick! 6-8 months with us visiting the community maybe 4 times, so we promote, promote and promote…the challenge is to debrief committee fast enough so they can explain the program We’ve completed three and are starting five more this fall

International Falls SRTS Quick example Established by the paper mills 6,700 city populations ISD covers 471 sq miles 1,300 students enrolled No comp plan Lacks bike/ped provisions in zoning and sub regs

Start up Visioning The red indicates their sidewalk network. Good connectivity downtown The district has consolidated it’s schools onto one campus and has found drop-off and pick-up times to be congested. The schools are surrounded by pavement Putting in new sidewalks is not going to happen soon

Student distribution maps are one of our best planning tools- most communities haven’t seen one before. Note here in I.Falls the brown indicates the densest areas (between61-75) students Because of the contracting process we didn’t begin until November We sent out press release Used the Clearinghouses surveys Majority lives over 2 miles away

Surveying There was a 48 percent return rate The Committee noticed that a large group of k-2nd grades was coming up

Distance Traffic Volumes Weather Traffic Speed Safety of Crossings

COMMUNITY-WIDE Issues 1. Pedestrian, bicycle and motorist education. 2. Bicycle and pedestrian facilities. 3. Perception of community safety for walking and biking. School CAMPUS ISSUES 4. Poor traffic flow around campus with private vehicles using bus drop-off/pick-up zone in front of Falls Elementary and High Schools 5. Pedestrian safety on school campus Encouraged creativity 5E were used ad

Community-wide recommendations Striping Safe Routes Restriping around campus Parking

School District Survey during parent conferences Recruit parents from all neighborhoods Piggyback on “Donuts for Dads” Safe bike storage Community Ed director, principals will be spearheading Short term the School is starting the program in small steps

Thank You! Ellen Pillsbury ARDC 221 West First Street Duluth, MN 55802 218-529-7554 or 1-800-232-0707 ext.554 www.arrowheadplanning.org epillsbury@ardc.org