Search results matching tag 'user surveys'

Armstrong Trail 2010 User Survey and Economic Impact Analysis

StephenMRTC — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 22:38:21 GMT

Patricia A. Tomes, Program Manager
Carl Knoch, Manager of Trail Development

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
Northeast Regional Office
December 2010

The Armstrong Trail is a multi-use, communitybased trail that runs 34.8 miles in Pennsylvania from Ford City in Armstrong County to East Brady in Clarion County.

An analysis of the data accumulated from infrared counters located along the trail and the completed surveys received from users indicates an estimated 80,638 annual user visits to the Armstrong Trail, resulting in a total economic impact in 2010 of $897,442 ($740,250 directly into the local economy).

Ghost Town Trail 2009 User Survey and Economic Impact Analysis

StephenMRTC — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 16:18:10 GMT

The Ghost Town Trail is a multi-use pathway in Pennsylvania traversing 36 miles from Ebensburg in Cambria County to Saylor Park in Black Lick, Indiana County. Along its route, the trail passes through land originally developed by mining companies — first iron ore and later coal. The crushed-limestone trail follows the former right-of-way of the Ebensburg and Black Lick Railroad, running parallel to Blacklick Creek. Designated a National Recreation Trail in 2003, the Ghost Town Trail has brought life back to an area once abandoned and neglected.

In 2009, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) conducted this study of the users of the Ghost Town Trail under a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Designed to monitor trail user characteristics and economic impact, the survey utilized a methodology previously tested on Pennsylvania trails and documented in RTC’s Trail User Survey Workbook.

Schuylkill River Trail 2009 User Survey and Economic Impact Analysis

StephenMRTC — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 22:29:22 GMT

The Schuylkill River Trail is a multi-use pathway that generally follows the course of the Schuylkill River from Pottsville to Philadelphia, Pa. The trail consists of sections of rail-trail and canal towpath, as well as small connectors that utilize shared road. The trail is a focal point of the Schuylkill River Heritage Area and has been constructed, as funding permits, by many municipalities and organizations that lie within the watershed. There are currently three separate segments totaling 56 miles of pathway that provide a substantive trail experience and are heavily used.

Beginning in May 2007, the Schuylkill River Heritage Area placed infrared counters at nine trailhead locations to measure movement and activity on the trail. Data from these counters was collected over the course of an entire year.

This survey was designed to gather data on user characteristics, needs, trail maintenance strengths and weaknesses, and to determine the economic impact of the Schuylkill River Trail. Self-selecting survey forms were available at 21 trailheads along the Schuylkill River Trail over a period of eight months. In all, 1,223 completed survey forms are included in this study.

Use of a Community Trail Among New and Habitual Exercisers: A Preliminary Assessment

StephenMRTC — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 18:35:01 GMT

Using onsite trail interviews, this study evaluates physical activity patterns and trail use among new and habitually active exercisers.

Results: "Twenty-three percent of the trail users were new exercisers. New exercisers were more dependent on the trails as a primary outlet for physical activity than were habitually active exercisers. New exercisers traveled shorter distances to access the trails and rated convenience as a primary reason for using them. Both safety and terrain issues emerged as enablers for trail use, and unsafe conditions emerged as a concern among new exercisers."

Gordon PM, Zizzi SJ, Pauline J. Use of a community trail among new and habitual exercisers: a preliminary assessment. Prev Chronic Dis [serial online] 2004 Oct

Trail User Surveys and Economic Impact: A Comparison of Trail User Expenditures

StephenMRTC — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 23:30:01 GMT

This report focuses on reported dollars spent from trail user surveys completed on seven rail-trails in Pennsylvania using the same methodology. In addition, we reviewed seven trail user surveys completed on comparable rail-trails in the northeast United States. Unlike public opinion polls, a trail user survey seeks specific information from the people actually on the trails. A number of trail user surveys with economic impact analysis have been done in Pennsylvania during the past eight years; most of these have attempted to quantify the amount of money a user spends during their time on the trail and identify the goods and services on which the user is spending their money.

The economic impact of rail-trails has been studied over the past 15 years by community planners and advocates alike. By acquiring and viewing this first-hand evidence of a trail’s economic impact, a community can more fully understand the users’ needs; thereby enhancing the users’ trail experience as well as the quality of life in the community. A trail user survey should be a standard tool of every trail manager and community planner.

Jacksonville S-Line Urban Greenway Community Walking and Bicycling Questionnaire

StephenMRTC — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 20:48:10 GMT

In May 2008, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy ran a helmet giveaway sponsored by The Blue Foundation for a Healthy Florida at an event hosted by the MaliVali Washington Kids Foundation along the S-Line Urban Greenway in Jacksonville, Florida. In order for youth to receive a helmet, an acccompanying adult was required to fill out a questionnaire to help RTC gain insight to how walking and bicycling can be improved in the Springfield and Durkeeville neighborhoods.

This document is a summary of survey results and includes a copy of the survey on the last page.

Indiana Trails Study Summary Report: A Study of Trails in 6 Indiana Cities

StephenMRTC — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 14:09:19 GMT

From the study: "The Indiana Trails Study was developed to address the growing need for more information on trail use and the general attitudes of trail users and trail neighbors. Originally proposed as a summer-long research study of one trail, the study quickly became an overview, or reconnaissance level study, of six (6) different trails in Indiana. Funded by the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) with additional funding by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), and the National Park Service (NPS) River, Trail, and Conservations Assistance Program, the Indiana Trails Study conducted research on trail use levels, trail management, economic impacts, property values, and attitudes toward trails in six (6) different types of communities in Indiana."

The six trails and communities studied were:

Fort Wayne, Rivergreenway Trail
Goshen, Maple City Greenway Trail
Greenfield, Pennsy Rail Trail
Indianapolis, Monon Rail Trail
Muncie, Cardinal Greenway Trail
Portage, Prairie Duneland Trail

City of San Jose, California: Trail Count 2009

StephenMRTC — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 23:10:49 GMT

From City of San Jose: "Trail Count is an annual event that documents the usage of San Jose’s trails for recreation and commuting. Trail Count is accomplished with the help of our volunteer community partners, the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition, Friends of the Guadalupe River Park & Gardens, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority and the support of many individual volunteers."

"Data secured from the event helps the City’s trail planners seek grant funding, build community awareness, and demonstrate that off-street trails are important elements in a well developed transportation system. Trail Count 2008 data is credited as a major determining factor in the City’s Trail Program receiving over $1,377,000 in grant awards in the past twelve months."

Otago Central Rail Trail Economic Impact and Trends Survey 2008

StephenMRTC — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 19:35:46 GMT

This research was conducted by Carla Jellum and Arianne Reis, who were independently contracted through the Otago Central Rail Trail Trust. Both Carla and Arianne are PhD candidates in the Department of Tourism and are employed as Assistant Research Fellows in the Centre for Recreation Research, School of Business, University of Otago.

In 2005, the Otago Central Rail Trail Charitable Trust developed a survey questionnaire to measure the economic impacts of the Rail Trail on businesses established in communities on the fringes of the trail. In 2008 the Trust repeated the effort to learn more about the successes and problems of businesses and communities affected by the Rail Trail, and administered a second survey to a similar sample in the same area, i.e. the Rail Trail’s Middlemarch – Clyde corridor, including the greater Maniototo and Strath Taieri areas. The results of this survey are presented here and, where possible, compared with results obtained in the previous research.

The survey administered in 2008 assessed the trends and economic impact of the Otago Central Rail Trail on businesses in the areas most affected by the OCRT, and was based on the questionnaire used in 2005. However, in 2008 two different distribution methods were utilised: 1) online questionnaires were distributed to businesses with available email addresses and 2) hard-copy questionnaires were posted along with self-addressed, postage-paid return envelopes to businesses without known email addresses.

The Otago Central Rail Trail Means Business

StephenMRTC — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 19:33:24 GMT

Otago Central Rail Trail (New Zealand), November 2005.

The survey was an initiative by the Otago Central Rail Trail Trust to quantify and map economic and other impacts of the OCRT on businesses primarily within the Rail Trail’s Middlemarch – Clyde corridor including the greater Maniototo and Strath Taieri areas. Questionnaires were also distributed to a small targeted sampling of businesses in Dunedin and Cromwell/Wanaka/Christchurch.

The survey has resulted in key findings on how respondents believe needs of users are being met, what improvements would be considered desirable and likely trends in future use and requirements. These key findings will likely be a beneficial tool for private enterprise, community groups and other organisations seeking development funding. The survey provides informative support documentation to the Otago Central Rail Trail Regional Economic Survey, Keeling 2005, released in May 2005.