TRAVERSE CITY (July 22, 2003) - Last summer, Traverse Area Recreation & Transportation (TART) Trails and a devoted group of volunteers began a trail study endeavor that has produced some insightful results. The survey was designed to distinguish user groups; count trail use, access and frequency of use; identify the economic impact of trail users; and provide a comfortable means for user input.

Dr. Christine Vogt, a professor in the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Resources at Michigan State University, worked with TART on survey design and methodology prior to TART’s survey project that spanned from May through September of 2002. Over 1,100 surveys were collected over the 5-month survey period. Vogt had recently conducted a similar type study on the Pere Marquette Rail-Trail in Midland and Isabella Counties through funding primarily from MDOT and Michigan Agriculture Experiment Station.

TART was excited to work with MSU on this project. TART has an active group of volunteers who conducted all of the on-the-trail data collecting. Dr. Vogt and her team of researchers at MSU spent many months analyzing the data and developing the trail study results.

“Both the TART Trail and the Leelanau Trail are used for transportation. Using a trail for utilitarian functions increases the value of the trail to the community. I think that it is clear that trails are highly used and valued in the greater Grand Traverse area,” Dr. Vogt comments on some of the significant findings of the study.

“This was TART’s first major effort to find out who uses the trails, where they are going, and what they like and dislike about our trails. As a result from the study, we have spoken to many trail users and have increased TART’s outreach in the community,” explains TART Trails Executive Director, Bob Otwell. “We have found that the trails are a well-used facility in Grand Traverse and Leelanau Counties. Our trails are utilized by both young and old, residents and visitors and for transportation and recreation,” continues Otwell.

Because the TART Trail and Leelanau Trails both traverse the population centers of the two respective counties, many trail users leave their car at home when exercising or commuting along the trail.

Highlighted below are some of the study findings:

Leelanau Trail:
ï‚· The Leelanau Trail had 29,318 estimated uses with 20,916 weekday uses and 8,402 weekend uses from May 3rd through September 27th, 2002.
ï‚· Based on the 29,318 extrapolated observations, there were 12,734 (43%) bicycling uses, 12,519 (42%) walking/running uses, 3,695 (13%) inline skating uses, and 370 (2%) uses for various other activities. There were 22,253 (76%) adult uses and 7,065 (24%) child uses.
ï‚· The majority (84%) of Leelanau uses were by area full-time or seasonal residents.
ï‚· Nearly half (45%) of Leelanau use was by people who accessed the trail without driving a vehicle to it. Approximately half (45%) of the uses were by people that traveled one mile or less to reach the trail.
ï‚· Survey data suggested Leelanau Trail uses were mostly for exercise (56%) or for the purpose of recreation (39%), and transportation to work, school, or other locations (5%).
ï‚· More than one-third (34%) of distinct users were tourists. All tourist uses resulted in an overnight stay in the area.

TART Trail:
ï‚· The TART trail had 154,803 estimated visits with 90,975 weekday visits and 63,828 weekend visits from May 2nd through September 28th, 2002.
ï‚· Based on 154,803 extrapolated observations, there were 75,234 (49%) bicycling visits, 59,599 (38%) walking/running visits, 17,028 (11%) in-line skating visits and 2,942 (2%) visits for various other activities. There were 122,604 (79%) adult and 32,199 (21%) child visits.
ï‚· The majority (79%) of TART visits were by Traverse City area seasonal or full-time residents.
ï‚· Approximately 60% of TART use was by people who accessed the trail without driving a vehicle to it. Over half (52%) of the visits were by people that traveled one mile or less to reach the trail.
ï‚· Survey data suggested TART Trail visits were mostly for exercise (44%), recreation (38%) or transportation to work, school, or other locations (18%).
ï‚· Two-thirds of the distinct users were tourists. Ninety-three percent of surveyed tourists stayed overnight in the area. Of those who stayed overnight, almost half (44%) stayed in a hotel.

Vasa Pathway:
ï‚· The Vasa Pathway had 11,406 estimated uses with 7,494 weekday uses and 3,912 weekend uses from May 15 through September 27, 2002.
ï‚· Based on 11,406 extrapolated observations, there were 4,939 (43%) bicycling uses and 6,467 (57%) walking/running uses. There were 10,083 (88%) adult uses and 1,323 (12%) child uses.
ï‚· The majority (78%) of Vasa uses were by Traverse City area seasonal or full-time residents.

The majority of visits on the three trails were rated as satisfactory or above by trail users. The top three user identified trail improvements were to extend the TART Trail east, pave additional portions of the Leelanau Trail and connect the Leelanau Trail to the TART Trail. The TART Directors were pleased that the user-identified trail improvements reinforced the current Master Plan for the trail network. Overall, TART Directors acknowledge that the trail survey serves as a tool that represents the tourism, recreation and transportation impact of the trail system. Otwell states, “Trails are a value-added amenity to any community. We still don’t know the full value of our trails, but the research by MSU helps to shed more light on the overall economic, social and environmental benefits of trails.”

For more information on the MSU/TART Trails User Survey, please call the TART Trails office at (231) 941-4300.

posted 07/28/2003