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Great Northern Trail Master Plan | August 2022 <br />Chapter 01 | Intro + Context <br />8 <br />PROJECT OVERVIEW <br />The Great Northern Trail (GNT) is a 30 mile rails to trails project located within the Great <br />Northern Railroad alignment between Elk River and Milaca. The southern 8.5 miles of the trail <br />are constructed as a paved bike and pedestrian trail from Elk River to Zimmerman, with a stand <br />alone 2 mile segment within the City of Princeton. The extension project includes the remaining <br />19.5 undeveloped miles. The completed trail will provide an important regional connection <br />between the Mississippi River Regional Trail and the planned Ports to Plains Trail, creating a <br />100+ mile loop between the cities of St. Cloud, Elk River, and Milaca. The trail will also connect <br />visitors to important natural, recreational, and cultural resources along the corridor, such as the <br />Milaca mountain bike trails, the Rum River Blue Trail, the Town of Brickton historic site, and the <br />historic Princeton Railroad Depot. <br />MASTER PLANNING PROCESS <br />The development of the Great Northern Trail Master Plan was based in part on direct input from <br />existing trail users, property owners in the corridor, agency stakeholders, and the community <br />at large. Outreach included in-person meetings and direct phone calls to stakeholders and <br />constituents, a county-managed website with frequent updates about the study, city council <br />workshops, listening sessions, and open houses for the public. Using preference surveys and <br />other feedback loops, the master plan is intended to reflect the goals and aspirations of a broad <br />cross section of the study area and surrounding communities. <br />The master plan was developed as a collaborative effort between Sherburne and Mille Lacs <br />Counties, the Cities of Elk River, Zimmerman, Princeton, and Milaca; herein referred to as <br />the Partnership Group. The partnership group met with a trail planning consultant regularly <br />between February and July of 2022 to develop the master plan. Three open houses were held in <br />April and May with an online survey option for asynchronous input. A pop-up event was held in <br />July along the existing trail to gather additional user input on proposed trail designs. <br />Project OverviewProject Overview <br />1. What is the timeline for the plan? <br />This trail extension master plan is a long- <br />term vision (25-30 years), requiring more <br />detailed analysis, public improvements, <br />and final design. Early phases of the trail <br />are anticipated to begin within the next <br />3-5 years. <br />2. Who will pay for the new trail? <br />The trail will be funded through grants <br />from state and federal sources. Many <br />funding programs require matching <br />contributions from the local agencies <br />which own the trail corridor and apply for <br />the grants. <br />3. What does this mean for private <br />property owners in the area? <br />The master plan for the trail sets a <br />vision for the area, defining alignment <br />options, potential amenities, and safety <br />improvements. <br />4. Will it be safer for me to walk and <br />bike in the area in the future? <br />Yes, the plan calls for intersection <br />improvements on busy corridors to <br />enhance connectivity and safety for <br />pedestrians and bicyclists. <br />FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS