TART › Traverse Area Recreation and Transportation Trails, Inc.

Seeking photos and memories of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

TART — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 01:28:35 +0000

We have been told by many people visiting Sleeping Bear Dunes that they came here when they were kids and loved it, so they brought their families here and now they are bringing the grandkids! We would love to have some pictures that tell this story of several generations enjoying and being active in the park.

If you do not have a photo, we would love to hear your memories about experiencing the wonder of our National Lakeshore. We hope to use these photos and stories in publications and web sites for a trail project in that area.

We are looking for both contemporary images from the Park and era-specific retro photos from the 50’s and 60’s when it was still a State Park. We hope to blend the photos we receive with people's memories at the park. We believe that the trail project that we are working on will create new memories in the Park that will last a lifetime.

If you have a memory or experience that you’d like to share with us, please do so! Please email your memory or JPG image to Missy at missy@traversetrails.org. If your story is used for our publication, a volunteer will follow up with you to verify your photo or story submission. Thank you for sharing!

8th Street Update (02/27/2010)

TART — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 18:12:08 +0000

Yesterday (02/25), representatives from the City of Traverse City, Senator Allen and Representative Schmidt met with the MDOT director in Lansing. Reports from the meeting suggest that options for bicycle and pedestrian improvements on 8^th Street between Barlow and Garfield are still possible additions to the current 8^th Streetimprovement plan. MDOT is willing to work with the city to facilitate conversations with the local Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) office regarding the Federal Stimulus money and the contract.

Thanks to everyone who has already made phone calls and sent letters regarding this issue so far. Now that the issue lies with FHWA, please kindly ask US Senator Carl Levin, US Senator Debbie Stabenaw or US Representative Dave Camp to support adding “complete streets” concepts to the pending 8^th Street project without losing the Federal dollars. Thanks for your help in making Traverse City a more bicycle friendly community.

Executive Director Position Announcement

TART — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 14:47:12 +0000

We are seeking an Executive Director to provide leadership and oversee the delivery of our mission of enriching the Traverse region by providing a network of trails, bikeways and pedestrian ways; and encouraging their use.

The Executive Director will continue and foster the growth of the organization as the premier trailways and advocacy organization in northwest Michigan. This individual is passionate about healthy outdoor living, sustainable transportation and the beauty of the Traverse region.

The Executive Director will oversee a staff of three (3) and will report to the Board of Directors. Key responsibilities will include general administration; staff, volunteer and board management; and public relations and development.

Bob Otwell, who has been the Executive Director of TART for the last nine (9) years, will be stepping down once the new Executive Director is hired. Otwell became director of TART Trails shortly after the trail umbrella group was formed, when the board consisted of the founders of the four original trails. TART has evolved to become a regional bike and pedestrian advocacy group with a statewide reputation for getting trails built and providing innovative programming.

Interested candidates should go to our Job Openings page for a detailed position description and to download an application. Applications will be accepted through Monday, March 15, 2010.

TART grooms Veronica Valley for skiing

TART — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 14:03:48 +0000

TART has made an agreement to groom Leelanau County’s Veronica Valley Park on Co Rd 641 on a trial basis. The initial groom was on Tuesday (2/16/10). Approximately 4 kilometers of trail were groomed for both classic and skate skiing. The Leelanau County Parks and Recreation Commission is hopeful that both visitors and county residents will take advantage of the newly groomed trails. If the groomed trails are popular with skiers; an arrangement could be made with TART trails to groom them for the remainder of the season. Veronica Valley is located in Bingham Township between County Road 641 (Lake Leelanau Drive) and Maple Valley Road. Check it out!

8th Street advocacy update

TART — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 13:59:03 +0000

Over 100 residents gathered at the City Commission meeting on 2/8/10 to voice their opinion on the current 8th Street redesign plans. TART is optimistic that we still have time to work together with the City and MDOT to redesign the 8th Street corridor with a Complete Streets design and not risk losing the Federal Stimulus funding. We’re hoping there is room to encourage flexibility for making a design change that would accommodate bike lanes on the 8^th Street project.

Mayor Bzdok and Manager Bifoss will be meeting with MDOT Director Steudle, Senator Allen and Representative Schmidt February 25 in Lansing to discuss the 8^th Street project. Please contact our elected officials before next Thursday and let them know your opinion on the 8^th Street project.

Please kindly ask Michigan Representative Wayne Schmidt, Michigan Senator Jason Allen and US Senator Carl Levin if there is anything we can do at this stage to move the 8^th Street project forward so it fits in with the City Master Plan and the Grand Vision without losing the Federal dollars.

Thank you for your support on this issue. Together, we are working to make our region a more pedestrian and bike-friendly community.

More information about Complete Streets may be found on TART’s website.

Action alert: 8th Street reconstruction project

TART — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 03:53:11 +0000

Action alert! You’re input is critical at this time, especially if you live within the Traverse City city limits! The Traverse City Commission is having a study session on Monday February 8, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. at theGovernmental Center (400 Boardman Ave) to discuss current plans to rebuild 8^thStreet between Garfield and Barlow. The current plan as designed does not accommodate safe provisions for bicycles. TART believes strongly that now is the time to redesign the 8^thStreet corridor with the Complete Street concept in mind, which means streets are designed to have room for all users (autos, bus, bike and pedestrian). There may be an opportunity to change the roadway to incorporate dedicated bike lanes along the corridor.

If we do not ask for bike lanes to be added at this time, we could be missing an opportunity to make Traverse City an even more Bicycle Friendly Community. It could be many decades before 8^th Street is completely reconstructed again. Please attend the meeting or contact the City Commissioners directly by phone or email. You may find their contact information here.

What are Complete Streets? According to the National Complete Streets Coalition, “complete streets are designed and operated to enable safe access for all users. Pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and transit riders of all ages and abilities must be able to safely move along and across a complete street.” On the statewide level, the League of Michigan Bicyclists and Michigan Environmental Council have teamed up to bring Complete Streets to Michigan. Find out more about complete streets statewide, by visiting MichiganCompleteStreets.org The City of Lansing is the first city in the state to adopt a complete street ordinance. Find out more about Lansing here.

The League of American Bicyclists announced Traverse City as a bronze-level 2009 Bicycle Friendly Community. The Bicycle Friendly Community award recognizes Traverse City’s commitment to improving conditions for bicycling and its practice of making focused investment in bicycling programs and facilities. The award judges were particularly impressed with Traverse City’s trail system, cycling events, bike advocacy groups, the local bike club, the Boardman Lake Trail Bridge, miles of bike lanes on city streets, TART-in-Town bicycle routes, annual Smart Commute Week program coaching people to use a bicycle as alternative transportation in addition to recreation and exercise, the Safe Routes to School program and the community’s commitment to improving cycling facilities. To learn more about the League of American Bicyclists’ Bicycle Friendly Community program, visit www.bicyclefriendlyamerica.org

We hope you will heed our call to action!

You're invited to review our new Vision!

TART — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 12:54:32 +0000

We have some exiting news to share with you! We’ve been working hard over the past few months to create a new vision, core values and strategic plan for the organization. A dedicated group that included board members and staff, went through a diligent process that was facilitated by Linda Racine from NMC. We analyzed our current committee structure, set goals and metrics and reflected on what is working and what could be improved. Then we highlighted our accomplishments, identified opportunities and challenges and took all of that information to create a new strategic plan and vision that will propel our organization forward over the next few years.

Our new vision paints a picture of what we see in the future as a result of implementing our strategic plan. We see “happy, active people enjoying a world-class trail system.” Can you see it too?

You are invited to review that strategic plan before its formal adoption and help TART Trails better define the organization’s scope of work and how that work should be carried out. Please join us Tuesday evening, February 2nd at 7:00 pm in Room #112 at Northwestern Michigan College’s Great Lakes Campus (located at 715 E. Front St) for a presentation and discussion of the proposed strategic plan.

We hope you’ll come out, learn a bit more about TART and where we’re headed. If you plan on attending, please RSVP to Pam Darling at pam@traversetrails.org

TART Trails Executive Director Announces Plans to Step Down

TART — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 15:42:13 +0000

Plans for new leadership underway as board and staff recognize tremendous contributions made by Otwell during tenure

January 19, 2010- TART has announced that Bob Otwell, the executive director for the last nine (9) years, will be stepping down this spring. Otwell became director of TART Trails shortly after the trail umbrella group was formed, when the board consisted of the founders of the four original trails. TART has evolved to become a regional bike and pedestrian advocacy group with a statewide reputation for getting trails built and providing innovative programming.

Tom Auer, president of the board, said that “TART has made great strides under the tenure of Otwell. His passion for the mission of TART has made the organization a leading bicycle and pedestrian advocacy organization in the state. We're looking for a new Executive Director to build on what Bob has created.”

Bob and his wife Laura plan to stay in the area and continue their involvement in TART’s bike and pedestrian advocacy.

Successes and achievements during Otwell’s tenure include:

The Leelanau Trail mortgage was paid off, and the trail cleared its final legal and zoning challenges.

Private easements were obtained and the TART and Leelanau Trail were linked, creating an uninterrupted 25-mile long trail.

The east and north sides of the Boardman Lake Trail were built after securing the final easements. The TART and Boardman Lake Trails were connected.

TART Trails took over the annual Smart Commute Week and raised participation and community impact.

TART Trails was invited to join the TC-TALUS board, the local land use and transportation group. Otwell has served as chairman for the past 3 years. The Grand Vision, a TC-TALUS project, has shown wide community support for safe walking and bicycling facilities, enhancing both recreation and transportation.

Otwell says he is proud of his involvement as the executive director of TART; “I feel great about where TART is right now: a strong staff, committed board, solid financial position and exciting projects on the horizon. A strategic planning effort now underway will provide a framework for the board, staff and new Executive Director to move forward.”

A search committee has been formed, and a position description and announcement will be forthcoming.

Please check our Job Openings page for more details as they unfold.

TART Open House on Vasa Pathway

TART — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 01:40:23 +0000

Just in case you didn’t get enough free hot cocoa last Saturday as part of Winter Trails Day, we’re planning another TART Open House this Saturday January 16 from 11:00-1:00 at the Vasa Pathway trailhead. Go for a ski or snowshoe and when you are done you can warm up by the bonfire, nosh on homemade cookies and sip a warm beverage! It doesn’t get any better than that!

Andy Skurka: Far, Fast, & Light: 23,000 Miles of Backpacking in America's Wild Lands

TART — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 00:53:31 +0000

Andy Skurka: Far, Fast, & Light: 23,000 Miles of Backpacking in America's Wild Lands- Sunday, January 17, 2010 at 7 PM at the Boardman River Nature Center- The presentation will encompass many of Andrew's hikes and outdoor experiences starting with his early trips to the mountains of New Hampshire and Maine, moving on to his first steps on the Appalachian Trail, an exhilarating trek around the West, and his adventures in exotic destinations like Alaska and Iceland. With a mix of photos and video clips, he'll share his most entertaining, inspiring, and heart-warming stories, and will highlight what he believes are the most important life lessons that he's learned through them. The presentation will last about 45 minutes and it will be followed by a 15-minute Q&A session. TheNature Center is on Cass Rd, 1.5 miles south of South Airport Rd, on the left just after the railroad tracks. A $5.00 admission charge will help defray Andrew's travel expenses. For more info you can phone a Grand Traverse Hiking Club member, June, at 947-8476.

Have fun partaking in all of some of the above activities,