CT Trail Census 2019 Data Reports & New Projects in 2020

Read more about the data here

Reports

• 2019 Trail Counts (https://bit.ly/2vuHwS0)
• 2019 Trail User Surveys (https://bit.ly/2QqqlIF)
• 2019 Hop River Trail (https://bit.ly/3d9uBpI)

The University of Connecticut (UConn) Extension is pleased to release the latest data on how several of the state’s most popular multi-use trails are being used, and to announce new initiatives the Connecticut Trail Census program is launching in its fourth year. “Connecticut’s trails are among the state’s most scenic and enduring assets,” observed Charles Tracy, coordinator for the Trail Census. “With three years of data collection complete, we now have a much clearer picture of trail use trends on several of the state’s major multi-use trails. New projects in 2020 will leverage existing data to estimate use on other trails, and to help us understand the statewide impacts, including health and economic benefits, of Connecticut’s diverse trails network.”

Data released today includes Trail Census summaries of the 2019 Trail Counts and Trail User Surveys along with an analysis of the impact of the new Hop River Trail connection to Manchester and East Hartford. The Trail Counts report documented 1,544,158 uses or trips recorded across all 20 sites. The most heavily used trails during 2019 were the Naugatuck River Greenway in Derby, Riverfront Recapture Trail in Hartford, and the Hop River Trail in Vernon. The Trail User Survey report found that the majority of trail users visit them frequently: 64.7% use the trails two or more times per week (in 2018 this was 55.7%). The Hop River Trail report showed how a new 3-mile trail connection was the catalyst for an increase in over 10,000 users in one year.  

Trail Census projects getting underway in 2020 include research to estimate use on other trails by combining existing Trail Census data and short-term counts; a multi-state conference on bicycle and pedestrian data collection; a new data visualization portal; and preliminary work on creating a statewide trails website, based on similar sites in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont.

The Connecticut Trail Census is a statewide volunteer-based data collection and education program that operates on trails across the state. The program collects information about trail use through trail use counts recorded by infrared counters and user intercept surveys administered by trained volunteers. The goal is to develop an accurate picture of who uses trails in Connecticut, and to advance and inform new trail policy, design and construction throughout the state. Data is compiled annually and is available online and through public education programs. 

Initiated in 2017 as a partnership between UConn Extension, the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments, the Connecticut Greenways Council, and local trails advocacy organizations, the Trail Census has expanded to over 20 data collection sites on trails across the state.  The program receives funding from the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Recreational Trails Program. For more information or to get involved visit www.cttrailcensus.uconn.edu.

 

How walking and cycling can help to increase healthy life expectancy.  An environment that signals receptivity to active travel makes it clear to the person walking and the person cycling that they take precedence.

About SUSTRANS

A Beginner’s Try At Ice Climbing In Southern New England
By PATRICK SKAHILL / Connecticut Public Radio

Each winter, area climbers are drawn to spots like the Catskills in New York or the White Mountains in New Hampshire. But there are pockets of good ice in southern New England, too…more

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

UConn Extension & Bike Walk Connecticut promote nutrition, fitness, and bike safety

Meriden – August 19, 2019:

UConn Extension, part of UConn’s College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources, Bike Walk Connecticut, and the Meriden Farmers Market will promote healthy living at the Get Out- Get Active-Get Healthy Bike and Back to School Rally on Saturday, September 7^th from 8:30 am to 12 noon on the Meriden Green. This fun event will feature bicycle and helmet safety demonstrations, games, helmet decorating, a bicycle raffle, as well as nutrition education. Youth and families are encouraged to bring their own bikes or borrow a bike from Bike Walk Connecticut’s fleet, sized for ages 9-12 with a few for ages 5-8. Join us to practice bicycle safety and agility skills taught by certified League Cycling Instructors (LCIs). Under Connecticut State Law, anyone under the age of 16 is required to wear a helmet when riding a bicycle, so families are encouraged to bring helmets if they have them and wear closed-toed shoes. New bicycle helmets will be available for free, first come, first served. Healthy food demonstrations will be provided by the UConn Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) and Chef Kashia Cave, founder of My City Kitchen. This event is made possible by a grant and funding from the David and Nancy Bull Extension Innovation Fund at UConn, UConn Extension PATHS (People on Trails for Health and Sustainability) Team, Bike Walk Connecticut, the Meriden Farmers Market, Community Health Center of Meriden and Meriden Public Schools. The free rally is open to the public on Saturday, September 7^th from 8:30 am to 12 pm at the Meriden Green Amphitheater on State and Mill Street in Meriden. We look forward to seeing you there! For more information contact Laura Brown at 203-407-3161 or laura.brown@uconn.edu.

In case you haven’t heard! The Connecticut Trail Census program recently received $206,049.50 in grant funding from the Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) Trails & Greenways Program and the Connecticut Greenways Council. UConn Extension’s Connecticut Trail Census is a statewide volunteer-based data collection and education program implemented as a pilot from 2016-2018 on 16 multi-use (bicycle, pedestrian, equestrian) trail sites across the state. With this news, program staff have been busy developing the program methods for 2019 and beyond, increasing the trail site capacity by bringing in additional staff, and improving upon the training materials while continuing to facilitate the trail use data collection by our passionate volunteers. 

Thank you to our volunteers and participating community members for your hard work and support! Together we hope to make the Connecticut Trail Census an efficient and successful model for trail use data collection by volunteers.

Happy New Year from the Connecticut Trail Census as we plan for this THIRD data collection year! In the 3+ years since the program inception, the goal has remained to make a real impact on the state’s multi-use trail systems. With funding applications completed and submitted, planning continues on proposed program improvements in hopes of good news!

On that regard, we are excited to share that we are hoping to be able to provide more support to our volunteer participants in their efforts to complete the program requirements and utilize the program to its full potential. In order to ensure we make the absolute best use of some new and improved program resources as well as maximize its impact and effectiveness, we are re-evaluating program ‘Trail Sites’, or where the infrared (IR) pedestrian counters are installed and an ‘application’ is required from both currently participating Trail Sites and proposed new Trail Sites. Application will take 5-10 minutes to complete and is due no later that Sunday, January 13, 2019.

Follow this link for more information and to apply.

 

Come mingle with CTTC staff, participants & supporters at the 3rd annual CT Trails Symposium where we will be learning and participating in discussions about efforts in the state integrating trails into the community and vice versa! Sessions will cover the physical connecting of trail systems as well as ensuring that entire diverse communities are able, educated and excited to utilize these trail systems to their full potential. Register Online Here.

Governor’s Greenways Council Presents:
3rd Annual CT Trails Symposium
Thursday October 25th. 9 am – 3 pm
Goodwin College’s East Hartford campus River Room (195 Riverside Drive)

View the Event Agenda

DETAILS

Trails have become a new type of Town Green, a place where all members of our communities can gather, recreate, relax and even commute or travel together. Experts will offer sessions designed to be interactive, so come prepared with your specific questions or concerns. By the end of the Symposium you will have learned how to integrate trail users and get your community more involved with and utilizing your trail systems on many levels.

The keynote speaker is Shalin Desai, a member of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) Board of Directors. Desai will speak about the ATC’s and his personal experience with the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) population and he will share diversity, equity and inclusion strategies we can all deploy. The Appalachian National Scenic Trail is the longest hiking-only footpath in the world, measuring roughly 2,190 miles in length. The Trail was completed in 1937 and travels through fourteen states. Over 3 million visitors walk a portion of the Trail each year. The population of the trail corridor, its visitors and volunteers is changing. The keynote will consider how the ATC is adapting to and supporting these changes.

Other sessions will include discussions on: Providing accessibility information to trail users; What managed motorized recreation is, who participates and its financial and community impacts; Kingdom Trails of Vermont will share their experiences for building a healthy community and sustaining a healthy economy; What are social determinants of health and how do they relate to greenways; The importance of connected greenways and bicycle routes in urban communities; and more!

REGISTRATION

The registration fee is $25 and includes lunch. Registration will close on October 19. Walk-ins will be welcomed as long as seats are available. Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2018-ct-trails-symposium-tickets-49896991244

GOODWIN TRAILS GRAND OPENING

Registrants are invited to stay after the event to attend the Goodwin College Trails Grand Opening, beginning at 3:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Pavillion at the South Meadows Greenway. Bus transportation will be provided to and from the event. Please email cblake@goodwin.edu if you are planning to attend the Grand Opening.

Come join us!

 

 

 

The CTTC team is happy to announce that all Trail Site Coordinators (TSCs) have been trained in the program updates that were developed using lessons learned from the pilot year! This means that the 2nd data collection season is underway! Things to keep in mind:

• Each trail should aim to collect 100 surveys at varied times and days throughout the summer and fall.
• 10 hours of manual counts should be completed throughout the season. Scan forms and email them to cttrailccensus@gmail.com and send originals in pre-paid envelopes with surveys (wait until envelopes are full to send!).
• This is bug season! Last year, several trails lost weeks of data due to bugs nesting in the IR Counter boxes and covering the heat-sensing scope. TSCs and volunteers should be checking the counters frequently! We recommend using a Q-tip to clean the scope even if it appears clear.
• TSCs: Please submit all current volunteer hours by the end of June. Track it Forward website.
• Have fun and take pictures! Post pictures of your data collection trips on the CTTC Facebook page using #cttrailcensus.

 

Other news:

• New logo! CTTC worked with a design team to develop a new color scheme and logo design for the program. Let us know what you think!
• Full-color summary reports are now available! These 4-page (2-page double sided) packets are designed to quickly and concisely illustrate the impact of each trail on its community according the CTTC data. Scroll to the bottom of the data page to take a look!
• Going forward, we will not be producing Quarterly Reports. Instead, the data will be uploaded to the interactive data portal each quarter.
• First quarter 2018 IR count trail use data is now live on the data portal. The totals listed on the default page represent the uses for the first quarter of 2018 (January, February & March).  Last year’s data can be viewed by clicking the red “2017 Adjusted Counts” button.

Click here to view the latest newsletter and please contact the Statewide Coordinator (cttrailcensus@gmail.com) if you have any questions or would like to get involved in the program.