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

2. 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

3. 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, ’06 $1,211, ’07$1,612, ’08$1,975, (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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

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

11. Distance
Traffic Volumes
Weather
Traffic Speed
Safety of Crossings

12. 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

13. Community-wide recommendations
Striping Safe Routes
Restriping around campus
Parking

14. 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

15. Thank You! Ellen Pillsbury ARDC 221 West First Street Duluth, MN 55802or
ext.554