CASE STUDY

Bike & Pedestrian Master Plan

Johnson City, Tennessee

The catalyst for the Bike and Pedestrian Master Plan was the city’s reception of a 10 mile rail line running from Johnson City to nearby Elizabethtown. The rails were received as part of a rail banking endeavor from the federal government. Recognizing the potential impact of a shared use path between the two cities, Johnson City and its MPO worked alongside consultants in creating the Rails to Trails Master Plan. The master plan consists of a comprehensive analysis and list of implementation recommendations, and utilized significant and regular public participation. Unique to the plan was its in-depth assessment of existing conditions, both in terms of demographics, but also geology, infrastructure and natural features. Using GIS mapping software, maps were created that highlighted the context in which the proposed trail would run through. Additional tables were included in the plan listing intersections and road ways that would bisect the trail, and the features of each.

Johnson City Tennessee, with a population around 64,000, is the largest city within the so-called “Tri Cities” region. The region is additionally comprised of Kingsport TN and the Bristol TN-VA Combined Statistical Area. Johnson City is bisected by Interstate 26, and contains several state routes and highways connecting it to both Virginia and North Carolina. Johnson City is also home to several colleges, including Eastern Tennessee State University.

RAIL BANKING The process in which rail lines are preserved for potential future use,

through conversion to an interim trail. These trails are often mixed use, and

may include greenway space.

Downtown Johnson City (Tony Casey, Johnson City Press)

Assessment Maps And Tables Included:

• Current City-Owned Land

• Geology

• Hydrology

• Historical Points of Interest

• Population Density

• Poverty Index Around Trail

• Current Intersection Conditions Bisecting The Trail

• Infrastructure Assessment And Inventory

Clockwise from upper left: Hydrology Map (Rail To Trail Master Plan); Historic Points of Interest (Rail to Trail Master Plan); Bridge Infrastructure Inventory (Rail to Trail Master Plan)

CASE STUDY

Bike & Pedestrian Master Plan

Johnson City, Tennessee

The final master plan proposed trail construction o be rolled out in four incremental phases. Each phase was broken down in-depth by mileage, required earthwork, construction, estimate timeline and cost. Potential funding sources were also identified, as were annual maintenance estimates.

After the assessment, a Comprehensive Management Plan was created outlining ongoing tasks to ensure the Trails success after opening for use. Considerations were given to safety, crime prevention, risk management and maintenance. Following the identification of these core elements, organizational site specific plans were created with a subsequent flow chart of organizational responsibilities.

$3,000-$5,000 Per Mile or

$30,000-$50,000 Total Estimated Annual Maintenance Costs

26-36 Months Estimated Timeline Per Phase

8-12 Years Estimated Total Project Timeline

Section of Proposed Trail Through Johnson City (Rail to Trail Master Plan)

The presence of a viable and convenient multi-use trial offers several simple health and economic benefits. Research has shown strong correlations between the presence of such a trial, and resulting health benefits for those who use them. Adults who bicycle and walk regularly have been found to increase life expectancy, and reduce obesity. Likewise, overall health care and transportation related costs have been seen to decrease, while property values and tourism increase. Multi-use trail systems also provide opportunities for building social capital between residents and visitors alike. A full list of the Rail to Trail Master Plan’s estimated impacts can be found here.

Economic And Social Impact Of Trail Development

75:1 Health & Related Benefits of

Urban Walking and Biking Compared to Risks

66% Percentage of Americans who

consider walkability when purchasing a home

12.5% Average percentage increase

of properties adjacent to greenways and pedestrian

trails

62% Percentage of transportation

related greenhouses gases that come from personal vehicles.

32.1% Increase in Active Travel

6.5% Fewer Miles Driven

11.1% Fewer grams of N20 and

VOC’s Emitted Annual Estimated Changes of an

Individual’s Behavior from Increasing Neighborhood Walkability by Just 5%

$5.2 Million Total estimated cost of completing

entire set of recommendations