Transportation Recreation

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Transportation Recreation Alternatives In
Louisiana
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• Presentation Outline

1. What is TRAIL Mission Vision
2. What is the Lafayette Metropolitan Planning
   Organization
3. Time Line
4. Economics of Recreation
5. TRAIL a sustainable non-profit - Events
6. TRAIL Projects (website)
7. Atakapa-Ishak Trail in Detail (website)

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• TRAIL Mission Vision

MISSIONTRAIL is a non-profit organization
dedicated to building and maintaining parks,
hiking trails, bike trails and other recreational
infrastructure. Development of the
infrastructure is how TRAIL promotes it motto of
the 4 Es Experience, Educate, Exercise and
Enjoy. These facilities encourage people to get
outside Experience their environment, gain more
Education about their environment and health,
have more opportunities for exercise and better
Enjoy their community. TRAIL is working to build
better communities that promote healthy lifestyle
options, appreciation for the native environment,
and a more desirable place to live, work and
visit.
VISIONThe vision of TRAIL is to be the catalyst
to help build, maintain and promote the use of
bike paths, walking paths, running paths, kayak
trails and parks. TRAIL works alongside various
governments, individuals and businesses to make
these facilities a reality. TRAIL would assist
in financing projects through searching for grant
opportunities, raising funds through events, and
soliciting sponsorship.
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Metropolitan Transportation Planning Process

• What is a Metropolitan Planning Organization and
  its functions?
• A metropolitan planning organization (MPO) is a
  transportation policymaking organization made up
  of representatives from local government and
  transportation authorities. The Federal Surface
  Transportation Assistance Act of 1973 required
  the formation of an MPO for any urbanized area
  with a population greater than 50,000. MPOs were
  created in order to ensure that existing and
  future expenditures for transportation projects
  and programs were based on a continuing,
  cooperative and comprehensive (3-C) planning
  process. Federal funding for transportation
  projects and programs are channeled through this
  planning process.

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• Time Line

• 2004
• Bikeway Technical Subcommittee to MPO
• Concept of an entity that would become T.R.A.I.L.
  developed
• Reds triathlete group talks about a Mardi Gras
  event and the Lundi Gras Bar-A-Thon is born fund
  raiser and is carried out every year since.
• 2005
• TRAIL legally organized
• 2007
• TRAIL partners with Alzheimers Association to put
  on several events bike rides, runs and volleyball
  tournaments.
• 2008
• TRAIL establishes an account with Community
  Foundation of Acadiana specifically for the
  construction and maintenance of the Atakapa-Ishak
  Trail. Plans to establish future project
  specific accounts as warranted.
• 2011
• Andre Mitchell joins TRAIL plans to become
  future Board Member
• 2012
• Hire Kat Crappel Tony Bonomolo join TRAIL as
  independent contractors
• Submission of 1023 to attain 5010c(3) recognition

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RECREATION IS CRITICAL FOR COMMUNITY

• Promotes Healthy Living
• Provides Entertainment
• Provides Economic Acitivity
• Provides Economic Means of Transportation

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Economic Impact of Recreation in Your Community
In the popular Outer Banks of North Carolina, a
onetime investment of 6.7 million of federal,
state and local funds in new trails has created
1,400 jobs and now pays back 60 million a
year. Given that recreation-based
nonmetropolitan counties have experienced three
times the rate of net migration as compared to
nonmetropolitan areas as a whole, rural
communities endowed with natural amenities will
likely experience growing local demands on
service and retail businesses Each of the
9,000 homes within one-half mile of the Monon
(Indianapolis, Indiana) trail enjoy an estimated
sales premium of 13,059, amounting to a 116
million increase in property values associated
with the presence of the Monon Trail. For
every 1 paid to canoeing outfitters customers
spent 5 for gas, groceries, restaurants,
campgrounds and other lodging. Seventy
canoe liveries in Florida generate 38.5 million
per year. An Australian study found that those
who walked for recreation for more than 8.6
minutes per day were 72 more likely to report
better physical health and 33 more likely to
report better mental health, than those who
walked less.
A 1998 study found that lots adjacent to the
Mountain Bay Trail in Brown County, Wisconsin (NW
of Green Bay) sold faster and for an average of
9 more than similar property not located next to
the Trail. The median paddler group spent 215
per trip in, local communities. Non-locals spent
an average, of 46 per person per day. The
majority of local, expenses were made in
communities adjacent to the waterways.
Consumers Survey on Smart Choices for Home
Buyers finding that trails ranked the second most
important amenity out of a list of 18 choices.
Blueways also tend to encourage economic
development and tourism through the enhancement
and promotion of the existing river resources.
A study of users of the Fox River Trail (Green
Bay) showed 39 of responding businesses
indicated increased business as a result of the
Fox River Trail. Tourists seeking
natural-resource-based settings, tranquility, and
adventures have affected rural economies by
injecting new dollars into local businesses
supporting local tax bases and creating increased
demands for locally available land, labor, and
capital. With regard to recreational use of
natural resources tourist expenditures create
local demands for traded goods and services, thus
creating jobs and income for local
residents According to a USDA Economic
Research Service study, rural counties able to
attract creative class businesses enjoy job-
growth rates higher than even metropolitan
counties. According to the study, two qualities
sought by creative class workers are active
streets scenes and outdoor recreation
opportunitiesboth of which are fostered
when people are given the option of safe walking
and biking facilities. By promoting
minimum-impact practices, water trails embrace
the "Leave No Trace" code of outdoor ethics that
promote the responsible use and enjoyment of the
outdoors.
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Ecotourism
Tammany Trace

• Minimize impact
• Build environmental cultural awareness
• Provide positive experiences for both visitors
  hosts
• Provide direct financial benefits for
  conservation
• Provide financial benefits empowerment for
  local people

10,000 visitors per month
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• TRAIL Sustainable Business Model

• In order to be a self sustaining organization
  that does not rely on membership or grant monies
  to support the administrative overhead,
  T.R.A.I.L. puts on several events that encourage
  exercise and the utilization of the bike trails,
  running/walking trails and parks that TRAIL
  assists in building and maintaining. Some of
  these events are
• Cajun Country 1/2 Marathon 10k Trail Run
• Cajun Challenge Bicycle Ride
• Lundi Gras Bar-A-Thon
• Volleyball Tournaments
• Riding Armadillo Scavenger Hunt (RASH)
• Spring Festival Ride

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How To Get Involved Stay Informed

• www.LAtrail.org
• info_at_LAtrail.org
• Facebook Group search TRAILs4LA
• http//www.facebook.com/groups/TRAILs4LA/
• Facebook Events Page
• http//www.facebook.com/!/pages/TRAIL-Events/2171
  12605081471
• Scott Schilling 337-781-9416
  scott_at_LAtrail.org
• Kat Crappel Kat_at_LAtrail.org
• Tony Bonomolo Tony_at_LAtrail.org
• Andre Michell 337.254.7460 andre_at_LAtrail.org