Montgomery County Trail Access, Diversity, and Awareness Plan

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Overview

The Montgomery County Trail Access, Diversity, & Awareness Plan was developed out of a desire to ensure that the county’s trail network is accessible to all who wish to use it, whether for recreation or transportation. The plan was developed using best practices that can be applied to any trail network, including taking an inventory of existing physical conditions, engaging with non-traditional audiences to gain their perspective about trails, and working with local community organizations to identify solutions to address user needs. Although it focuses on trails in three specific locations in Montgomery County, the plan’s recommendations are applicable to trails in communities across Montgomery County. The recommendations developed as a result of an extensive outreach effort—the Tools to Increase Access, Diversity, and Awareness— fall into the following categories: signage and connectivity; gateway/trailhead improvements; corridor improvements; public art; programming, and events; and marketing and communications.

Trail Diversity StudyMontgomery County Trail Access,
Diversity, & Awareness Plan

This plan supports the following goals of Montco 2040: A Shared Vision:

  • Improve transportation quality and expand options for county residents and workers.
  • Expand and connect county trails, local trails, greenways, natural areas, and parks.
  • Provide more opportunities for residents to exercise and have healthy lifestyles.
  • Enhance community character and protect neighborhoods.
  • Improve transportation access to businesses.

Public Involvement

Outreach was a significant factor in developing the plan’s recommendations. Challenges with public engagement included reaching nontraditional audiences and non-trail users to learn what prevented them from using the trail. The planning team developed an extensive list of community contacts for engagement. Personal interviews were conducted with at least three contacts per study area. The team also attended one public event in each study area to gather feedback from the general public and to promote the trail.  

April 29, 2021 Webinar

We offered a webinar focused on the plan on April 29, 2021. The "Happy Trails! Planning and Designing Trails for All Users” webinar had over 150 registrants, who had an opportunity to learn about the plan and view a ride-along bicycle video ride featuring areas near the Schuylkill River Trail in Norristown that could be enhanced for access, awareness, and safety and provide public gathering spaces using the recommendations and tools provided in the plan. Participants also had an opportunity to ask questions, which were answered by a group of diverse panelists. 

Project Partners

This project was developed in partnership with Whitman, Requardt and Associates, LLP (www.wrallp.com), located in Wilmington, Delaware and Traffic, Planning and Design (www.trafficpd.com), of Pottstown, Pennsylvania.

This project was funded by a grant from the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission’s Transportation and Community Development Initiative (TCDI)