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Elk River City Council <br />13065 Orono Parkway <br />Elk River, Minnesota 55330 <br />RE: CSAH 33 Trail Proposal <br />Dear Council: <br />Speaking as a resident of the City of Elk River who lives on the east side of our community, I am in favor of <br />the trail construction along CSAH 33. My personal story occurred a few years ago when my husband went <br />biking alone one evening after work. He was gone an unusually long time. It was starting to get dark, and I <br />became concerned as to what happen to him. I grabbed my car keys and proceeded to search for him having <br />no idea which direction he went. As I was getting in my car, my husband came biking down our road. He was <br />bruised up and told me someone ran him off the road and he laid unconscious in the ditch. He didn't know <br />how long he was out, and we believe no one saw him so no one stopped to help him. The car that ran him <br />off the road did not stop. He was biking along CSAH 33. <br />Per the Parks and Recreation Master Plan <br />■ Page 17 discusses how trail -based activities are by far the most popular features of our park system <br />with over 70% of Elk River residents identifying trails as a high priority. Elk River's trail system is <br />smaller than the trail system in many of its peer communities. <br />■ Page 27 highlights the need for off -road trails because of the lack of safe trails in some locations of <br />our community due to high traffic and low visibility. <br />■ Page 28 there is a map which clearly shows the deficiency in trails for the northeast quadrant of our <br />community. <br />Under Recommendations & Strategies, Initiative 3 Strengthen Trail Connections. <br />■ Page 56 a map highlights this segment as a priority connection to the existing Great Northern Trail <br />and part of a proposed greenway trail connection. <br />■ Page 57 highlights a strategy to connect neighborhoods on the east and west side of Highway 169 to <br />the Great Northern Trail. <br />■ Page 58 outlines utilizing opportunities to expand the trail system by coordinating new trails with <br />county construction projects and to build trails on all collector/arterial roads where possible. <br />Many deaths have occurred in the northeast quadrant of our community on both County Road 13 and <br />County Road 33, causing safety concerns with sharing the current road system between vehicles, pedestrians, <br />and bikers. As you can see from the Plan, the northeast quadrant is lacking much in safe trail amenities <br />compared to the rest of our community and there is a need to start somewhere when opportunities become <br />available. <br />I ask Council to look at the larger community vision and the long-term goals created with the Parks and <br />Recreation Master Plan. It will cost less to build the trail now when there is opportunity to do so versus <br />building it later. County roads are shared regionally by area residents and have faster, heavier traffic; therefore, <br />this trail will serve area trail users not just those who live on this street. I feel if you build this, other <br />opportunities will also arise to continue expanding these area trails in the future, and you need to start <br />somewhere. For those living closer to TH169/33 this trail will also someday help safely connect them to the <br />Twin Lakes Park amenities on the eastern border of our community. <br />I hope Council will capitalize on this opportunity as I would love to safely bike from my home to the Great <br />Northern Trail and Woodland Trails Regional Park someday. <br />Sincerely, <br />Tina <br />9660 20Pt Avenue <br />Elk River, Minnesota 55330 <br />