Public Hearing Draft Amendment to the
Countywide Park Trails Plan:

Introduction

• History
• What This Plan IS-And What This Plan is NOT
• Terminology
• Planning Process and Public Involvement
• Relationship to the General Plan Refinement of the Goals and Objectives for Montgomery County
• Relation to Regional Trail Network
• Achieving Recreational and Environmental Protection Objectives

Plan Concepts

Trail Recommendations by Corridor

Bikeways and Other Non-Park Trail Connectors

Trail Corridor Plans

• What is a Trail Corridor Plan?
• How is a Trail Corridor Plan prepared?
• What Types of Data are Collected in the Trail Corridor Plan Process?
• How are Environmental Concerns Related to Hard Surface Trails Evaluated?
• If a Trail Corridor Plan recommends a hard surface trail, what other studies are done before the trail is actually constructed?
• What planning objectives and principles guide the natural surface trail planning process?
• What are the categories of natural surface trails used in the planning process?
• What criteria is used to determine whether a natural surface trail should be shared use?
• If a trail Corridor Plan recommends a shared use natural surface trail, what other studies are done before the trail is actually constructed?
• How are the needs of people with disabilities taken into account in trail planning?
• Are there other types of trail plans in addition to Trail Corridor Plans?
• How are Trails approved, Trail Corridor Plans implemented?

Implementation Recommendations

• Ten-year Trail Completion Priorities
• Trail Priority Criteria
• Trails Work Program
• Funding
• Implementing Trails Through the Capital Improvements Program
• Trail Implementation Guide
• Improving High-Volume Trail-Road Intersections
• Trail Mapping
• Monitoring and Maintenance of Trails

Appendix A: Planning Surface Trails in Parks with Sensitive Environmental Features

(Note: Although this Appendix is a new addition to the Countywide Park Trails Plan, the policy has been in place since 1999 and has been previously reviewed by the Planning Board and County Council.)

List of Figures

1. Plan Process
2. Regional Trails Map
2A. Park Trail Use
3. Regional/Recreational Park Destinations
4. Countywide Trail Corridors
5. Natural Surface Trail Plan
6. Hard Surface Trail Plan
7. Hard Surface Trails: Planning Process
8. Natural Surface Trails: Planning Process
9. Trails Work Program
10,10A. Implementing Trails Through the Capital Improvements Program

List of Tables

1. General Plan Refinement Goals, Objectives & Strategies Related to Park Trails
2. Trail Corridor Planning Process
3. Summary of Proposed Trail Project Completions: 1999-2009
4. Trail Priority Criteria
5. Recommended Priorities for Safety Improvements at High Traffic Volume Trail-Road Intersections
6. Plan Implementation Recommendations