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

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: DNR Trail Maps at: lmaps/trail_atlas.html lmaps/trail_atlas.html Maryland Department of Transportation maps: nt/New%20MDOT%20Site/tabPages/Bike_Wal k.html nt/New%20MDOT%20Site/tabPages/Bike_Wal k.html Maryland Tourism Maps at: d.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!