HomeMy WebLinkAboutAugust 2020 GLVT Story Map Print VersionEast-West Trail System
Expanding Bozeman’s Community Main Street to the Mountains Trail System
Submitted by Gallatin Valley Land Trust
Text and plain format version of the online story map presented to Bozeman’s Trails,
Open Space and Parks (TOP) Bond Committee
August 2020
Project Summary
This wayfinding project is a cooperative effort of the City of Bozeman and Gallatin Valley Land
Trust, working with a wide variety of community partners. The goal is to enhance pathway and
trail connectivity on existing paths and trails, primarily in the western portions of Bozeman.
Rapid growth in the west portion of Bozeman has created an outstanding number of new trails
and paved pathways in the growing neighborhoods. This project seeks to bring those paths and
trails into recognizable and desirable routes so trail users can more easily navigate to
destinations, or enjoy a wider variety of trail experiences for recreational and social interaction.
The vast majority of this wayfinding project is proposed for existing off-street paths and trails.
This project is intended to be a first phase to establish a primary east-west route as described in
this presentation. Connections to other areas of the City, and County, will occur in future
phases. The goal is to have a network of primary trails with an interconnected system of
secondary trails extending into individual neighborhoods and connecting with community
amenities.
The project will be incorporated into the City’s Parks, Recreation, Open Space and Trails Plan
updates planned for later in 2020.
Wayfinding elements will reflect the current well-recognized and effective existing Main Street
to the Mountains Trail System wayfinding program, with opportunities to reflect neighborhood
identity.
The presentation was created by GVLT for application to the City of Bozeman’s Trails, Open
Space and Parks bond program and is intended to provide overall concepts of the project.
Additional details have been developed and are available for review through Bozeman Parks
and Recreation Department.
A vital component of this project is ensuring community needs are met. Community outreach is
underway and will continue. Funding will be incorporated as this project moves forward.
Figure 1 Map of Proposed East West Route with West Side Trail Loop Included
Project Background and Implementation
GVLT has been inventorying existing trails and paths in this route and has provided the City
Parks & Recreation Planner with photographs such as those below to show the location and
suggest the type of trail signage that may be appropriate there. These locations are cross
referenced on maps, and additional information is contained in a table with site-specific detail
for use by staff.
Photo 1 Sample Photo of Wayfinding Signage Proposal
GVLT and the Parks & Recreation Department also worked with Montana State University in
early 2020 on a variety of trail studies, with west Bozeman being a priority area. This
information will be used in the implementation of this proposed project if approved.
If this project is approved City staff and advisory boards will review the recommendations and
make adjustments if necessary. The trail wayfinding signage and routes will be incorporated
into the Parks, Recreation, Open Space and Trails Plan (PROST) update process. The routes will
also be evaluated to ensure the City of Bozeman's Strategic Plan is upheld.
Photo 2 Trail users at Lakes at Valley West Subdivision
Photo 3 Above is the currently unmarked entrance to Bronken Park. Trail signage and a locator
map is proposed at the location to identify the park, and direct trail users to it.
Wayfinding trail totems and map kiosks will be installed at key locations along the route. The
recognizable totems and large map kiosks will "anchor" the trail system at priority locations and
readily identify the trails as City trails open to the public. Totems will be used as key locations,
near streets and in City Parks. Smaller intermediary signs and wayfinding locator maps will be
added at interior trail intersections. This signage system will facilitate implementation of a
more thorough wayfinding system, directing users to other trails and popular destinations. The
proposed system will also reduce the cost of wayfinding significantly, allowing for additional
trails to be included in the project after the primary route is completed.
Figure 2 Examples of Signage Options
Photo 4 An existing trail totem and signage along the Sourdough Trail in Tuckerman City Park.
Photo by Louise Johns.
Consistent design and layout will be utilized on the signage, similar to the recognizable Main
Street to the Mountains trail system in the eastern and southern portions of the City.
Opportunities exist to color code the signs to identify specific trail networks, but carry the same
layout. Trail names could also be added to improve recognition of primary trails.
Photo 5 View of the "M" from the Lakes at Valley West with proposed signage sign board. The
long term goal is to connect these trails all the way to the "M" primarily off-street.
This project will help establish formerly HOA maintained public parks as City Parks now that the
Parks and Trails District has been passed by the voters. Consistent City trail signs will help
identify the park as a public park.
Photo 6 Riding south from Diamond Park into Flanders Mill subdivision
Photo 7 The park above is Diamond Park, adjacent to the new Gallatin High School. The park
and trails will now be maintained by the Parks & Recreation Department. Trail signage will help
identify the park as a Bozeman City park open to the public.
THE ROUTE
The primary east-west route starts at the current western edge of the City of Bozeman within
the Lakes at Valley West subdivision and Bronken City Park, passes through the public Lakes
City Park then north toward Durston Rd. and the new Gallatin High School and City Sports Park.
The route travels east through Bozeman and eventually to the "M".
Trails in this area connect directly to Bronken Park and the existing Nature Preserve trail
network. Opportunities exist to use this area more extensively as an outdoor classroom,
utilizing the existing trail system and bridges. Trail signage will help teachers and students to
better navigate the trail loops.
GVLT and the Parks and Recreation Department worked with a class of Architectural students at
Montana State University in early 2020 and this area was a case study area. One of their
observations was that trails in this area are fragmented and implementation of new and
specific signage would lead to a more navigable feel like their control site of the Sourdough
Trail system in southern Bozeman which has consistent wayfinding signage.
Trail connections are to be constructed in future phases of nearby Norton Ranch and other
developments which will connect the area to the shared use paths on Huffine Lane. Once those
connections are in place, wayfinding will be extended.
City of Bozeman Engineering will evaluate and recommend the safest crossing location and
configuration of the crossing at Durston Rd., shown as a green circle on Figure 3 Map below.
Note that work on street crossings will be accomplished through other City funding sources and
used as match for TOP funds.
Photo 8 Unmarked trail intersection in Bronken City Park. Signage will be added to this location
through this project.
Figure 3 Map of Lakes at Valley West and Bronken Park Area
The map below shows the Westbrook, Nest, Traditions and Flanders Creek subdivisions and the
proposed route connecting with Gallatin High School. Several trails in this area are in need of
improvement and can be improved through this project. Coordination will occur with City staff
to bring the trails up to standard.
The Nest development is under construction now and a east-west connection will be
established, and the existing north-south trail will be improved. The developer is to provide trail
totems at Durston Road and at Annie Street as part of the development review process.
Intermediary signs are proposed for the east-west connection.
Figure 4 Map of Westbrook, Nest and Traditions
Photo 9 Proposed location of a new trail totem and map kiosk on Immanuel Way in Laurel Glen
subdivision. The new high school is approximately 1/4 mile to the east of this location. The Nest
subdivision is located just beyond the trees to the east.
There are many new paved shared use paths and gravel trails in the area surrounding the new
Gallatin High School, Sports Park, Flanders Mill, and the Regional Park.
Figure 5 Map of High School and Sports Park Area
Photo 10 Brand new shared use paths and crosswalk along Annie St on Gallatin High School
campus.
The primary east-west route will utilize these existing paths and trails, with wayfinding totems,
signs and maps added. Map kiosks would be installed at city parks.
It is proposed to connect existing trails to form a loop on the current West Side Trail, passing
through Oak Springs and Valley Unit City parks. Secondary routes can be identified leading to
and from the West Side Loop to access the University, south west Bozeman, and the
neighborhoods in the area.
Secondary routes can be developed in future phases to connect to areas north of Baxter Lane,
Chief Joseph Middle School, Points West, and the "Triangle" area of the County.
Photo 11 Trail entering Oak Springs City Park. Regional Park and Sports Park to the north, Valley
Unit City Park is to the south. This portion of trail would be connected to the existing West Side
Trail to form a trail loop.
If the TOP funding is approved, GVLT will coordinate with Gallatin County and Run Dog Run on
the preferred route though the Regional Park on existing trails and identify funding sources for
the wayfinding elements within the park.
• No TOP or City funding will be used within the County park.
Continuing east through West Winds subdivision the route connects with the popular West Side
Trail, connecting to areas south. This project will provide an extension of the West Side Trail
where signage currently ends at Oak St. Recent improvements on Oak St. have provided safe
crossings for pedestrians and cyclists.
Figure 6 Map of West Winds and Rose Park Area
Currently this segment of the route requires a 2-block connection on low volume city streets.
However, a trail bridge is planned to connect the existing trail with West Winds City Park in a
future phase of West Winds development. Wayfinding signs can be installed to guide trail users
along city streets until the bridge is built.
Photo 12 Currently unsigned West Side Trail in West Winds City Park
This area holds promise as a trail hub, allowing for connections east-west as well as north-
south. Trails to the north are specified in the subdivision's master plans and will eventually
provide connections to Baxter Lane, and the Cattail area to the north. The park provides a great
public space for trail users to gather and interact.
East of West Winds the route utilizes an existing concrete shared use path along Rose City Park.
Trail users have easy access to Rose Park, its trails and disc golf course. Trails could be built
along Tschache Lane to provide natural surface trails as shown.
Near 19th Avenue trail users can remain on the existing Tschache Lane shared use path to
access 19th Avenue and it's paved pathways, or turn onto the existing gravel path behind the
commercial center and connect with Oak St.
Photo 13 Existing gravel trail behind Stoneridge Square Shopping Center
East of 19th Avenue the proposed route uses existing paved paths along Oak Street, continuing
to Rouse Avenue.
Figure 7 Map of 19th Avenue to the M
Once the TOP-funded Front Street Pathway Connector project is completed, trail users can
remain off-street and connect with the existing Story Mill Spur Trail. Story Mill Spur Trail then
connects with TOP-funded Story Mill Community Park and the Path to the M and Drinking
Horse, completing a largely off-street interconnected network of paths and trails!
West Side Trail Loop
This project also seeks to complete a West Side Trail Loop utilizing the existing West Side Trail
that currently connects Bozeman Pond City Park with the West Winds area north of Oak Street.
Through wayfinding and improvements to existing trails this loop will connect Bozeman Pond
Park, Asheim Fields, Hyalite Elementary School, Valley Unit Park, Oak Springs Park, Gallatin
County Regional Park, West Winds Park, Harvest Creek and Greenway Park trail corridors.
Existing trail connections allow for off-street connections to numerous small neighborhood
parks, Emily Dickinson Elementary School, and commercial centers.
Photo 14 Existing West Side Trail in Harvest Creek subdivision. This section of trail will now be
maintained by the City of Bozeman Parks and Recreation Department. Several trail totems are in
need of replacement and will be addressed by this project with locator maps added at key
locations.
Figure 15 Photo of the existing West Side Trail in Greenway City Park.
Photo 16 Photo above shows the existing trails at Valley Unit Park that can be improved through
this project. The park is located just off Durston Road which was recently improved by the City of
Bozeman to include crosswalks, curb cuts, bike lanes, and sidewalks. The proposed route utilizes
these improvements to guide trail users to safe crossings through the use of wayfinding signage
and maps.
Photo 17 Intersection of Durston Road and Yellowstone Avenue near Valley Unit Park