#2 Recognize support for Beloit-Janesville Peace Trail (File Res. #2012-895)
CITY MANAGER’S OFFICE MEMORANDUM
March 12, 2012
TO: City Council
FROM:Rebecca Smith, Management Assistant
SUBJECT: Action on a proposed resolution recognizing the City of Janesville’s
support for the Beloit-Janesville Peace Trail (File Res. No. 2012-895)
Request
The Rock County Trail Coalition requested the City of Janesville show their support for
the Beloit-Janesville Peace trail through formal resolution. This request was also made
to several other area jurisdictions. Rock County, City of Beloit, as well as Rock and
Beloit Townships have approved similar resolutions for trail support.
Parks Director’s Recommendation
Janesville is proud of its 26 mile paved trail system. Janesville has a long history of
supporting trails and linkages. In 1984 the City became a part of the 1,100 mile
Wisconsin Ice Age Trail system. In 1987 Janesville acquired 4 miles of abandoned
railroad grade along Afton Road with the stated goal of linking our community via trail to
Afton and Beloit. Completing the Beloit-Janesville Peace Trail would allow users to
travel 11 miles between our communities. Once the new Highway 26 bike trail is
completed in 2014, users will be able to travel 55 miles from Beloit to Watertown. I
recommend the Council approve Resolution No. 2012-895 to formally recognize the City
of Janesville’s support for the Beloit-Janesville Peace Trail.
City Manager Recommendation
The City Manager concurs with the recommendation to approve Resolution No. 2012-
895.
Suggested Motion
I move to adopt Resolution No. 2012-895 to formally recognize the City of Janesville’s
support for the Beloit-Janesville Peace Trail.
Beloit-Janesville Peace Trail
Janesville’s portion of the Peace Trail extends south from Rockport Road, past the Tripp
Road parking lot at the entrance road into the Janesville Wastewater Treatment Plant
and terminates at Eau Claire Road. The gravel trail expansion from the Tripp Road
parking lot to Eau Claire Road was made possible by the City’s purchase of the Morris
property in 2011. This section was Janesville’s last needed section to complete our
efforts in the joint Beloit-Janesville Peace Trail.
Since 1991 the Rock Trail Coalition, Inc, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, has been
working with area municipalities to obtain an off-road transportation corridor for bicycling
and pedestrian uses to connect the Cities of Beloit and Janesville. In recent years a
group of interested volunteers and staff from the affected communities started meeting
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to develop strategic plans to complete the Beloit-Janesville Peace Trail. In 2011 a
consultant was hired to develop a feasibility and corridor study, and the results should
be published soon. The Coalition is also working with adjacent property owners to
obtain trail easements; the Coalition feels that having resolutions of support from area
municipalities will help in their efforts to both apply for grant assistance and unite local
jurisdictions in completing this trail.
CC: Eric Levitt, City Manager
Jacob J. Winzenz, Assistant City Manager
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FILE RESOLUTION NO. 2012-895
A resolution recognizing the City of Janesville’s support for the Beloit-Janesville
Peace Trail
WHEREAS
, Janesville has a long history of supporting the development of bicycle and
pedestrian trails, particularly those that allow for connectivity to already developed trail
systems; and
WHEREAS
, a sound and functional bicycle and pedestrian network provides citizens of
the City of Janesville with a safe, scenic and energy-efficient alternate to current
transportation infrastructure by decreasing motor vehicle traffic, air pollution, reducing
wear and damage to roads and providing transportation alternatives to motor vehicles;
and
WHEREAS
, Janesville’s portion of the Peace Trail extends from Rockport Road south
to Eau Claire Road; and
WHEREAS
, efforts, including the development of the Beloit-Janesville Bicycle Route
Corridor Master Plan and Feasibility Study, are underway to expand the trail further
south through area townships to the City of Beloit; and
WHEREAS
, if the Peace Trail is extended, trail users would be able to travel from the
City of Beloit north through Janesville to Watertown;
WHEREAS
, the Janesville Parks Division & Community Development are engaged in
the Beloit-Janesville Bicycle Route Corridor Master Plan and Feasibility Study process,
and have contributed towards the selection of preferred routes from the City of
Janesville to the City of Beloit, including routing that passes through area townships;
and
WHEREAS
, the Janesville Park & Open Space Plan calls upon the City to provide a
well-integrated network of sidewalks, recreation paths and trails, and bike lanes
throughout the City that connect with other facilities in the area; and
WHEREAS
, The Janesville Area 2005-2035 Long Range Transportation Plan
recommends the extension of the Peace Trail from Janesville to Beloit; and
WHEREAS
, longtime area volunteers and the Rock Trail Coalition are pledging
partnerships and funding to help make this trail a reality by working with area
municipalities and adjacent residents to obtain possible easements and state and
federal grant funding; and
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVEDby the Common Council of the City of
Janesville
on this 26th day of March, 2012, that the City of Janesville formally resolves
our support for the Beloit-Janesville Peace Trail; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Common Council
that the City of Janesville
endorses the Beloit-Janesville Bicycle Route Corridor Master Planning and Feasibility
Study process.
ADOPTED:
Motion by:
Second by:
APPROVED:
Councilmember Aye Nay Pass Absent
Dongarra-Adams
Liebert
Eric J. Levitt, City Manager
McDonald
Rashkin
ATTEST:
Steeber
Voskuil
Jean Ann Wulf, City Clerk-Treasurer
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Wald Klimczyk, City Attorney
Proposed by: Rock Trail Coalition
Prepared by: Mgt Asst