Iron Ore Heritage Trail

Iron Ore Heritage Recreation Authority
For Construction, Management and Maintenance of
Proposed Iron Ore Heritage Trail

FAQ’s for 2010 Millage Request

What is the Purpose of the Iron Ore Heritage Recreation Authority?

The purpose of the Iron Ore Heritage Recreation Authority is to acquire, construct, operate, maintain and improve a year round signed and surfaced 48-mile trail system. The trail will revolve around our iron mining heritage and thereby has been labeled the Iron Ore Heritage Trail. Our goal is to provide a spine system connecting population regions and major mining sites while preserving and interpreting the significance of our mining history. It’s an economic development strategy that includes recreational, cultural, natural, historical, educational, health and tourism components. The current members of the Recreation Authority include the Townships of Chocolay, Marquette, Negaunee and Tilden plus the Cities of Marquette, Negaunee and Ishpeming.  Each municipality appoints a member to serve on the Authority board.

What is a Recreation Authority and Why Utilize It for the Trail System?  A Recreation Authority is a municipal entity that exists for recreational projects among two or more municipalities and/or school districts. It is a recognized governmental entity that has components that work well for the establishment of a trail system..

1)      It is a designated Michigan Public Act that specifically allows for the development of recreation projects across municipal boundaries.

2)      The Articles of Incorporation are written so that all municipalities involved receive an equal vote.

3)      An Authority is a municipal entity that can attract State and Federal funds given exclusively to governments.

4)      It can leverage a millage and bond to provide for sustainable funding.

5)      It allows many governments to work together for a common project.

6)      Since a trail system crosses boundaries, the costs are shared throughout the municipalities involved.

7)      The State and Federal government recognize an Authority as a sustained organization and thereby are more committed to providing funds.

What is the Proposed Route of the Iron Ore Heritage Trail?The proposed route of the Iron Ore Heritage Area extends from Republic to Chocolay on mostly City and State owned railroad grades. The railroad grades have small grade differentiation which is good for accommodating the majority of potential users. By the nature of the mining industry using railroad grades, many of the mining sites are near the grades.  About 65% of the trail is State owned railroad grade.  The State remains the owner and the Recreation Authority becomes the local manager of the trail.  The State has ultimate authority to name the potential users of the trail.

 

What about areas where there are no City or State railroad grades?  There are certain portions of the proposed route that are in private ownership. The Recreation Authority is working to purchase linear lands, work as the middleman for land swaps between private owners and the State, and lease long-term from private owners while extending the owners with insurance coverage.

What will the Trail System Look Like and Who can use it?

The surface of the trail system will be a mixture of asphalt pavement, crushed limestone and dirt.  The asphalt and crushed limestone sections will be for non-motorized users in the warm weather seasons.  The dirt trails will be utilized by ATV’s and snowmobilers.

Pavement and crushed limestone can accommodate walkers, road bikers, mountain bikers, runners, inline skaters (on pavement), strollers, wheelchairs, and roller skiers (paved).  Paved sections will be in the urban areas while crushed limestone will be utilized in the more rural settings.

With a 48 mile trail going through multiple municipalities with different types of recreational users, we want to try and accommodate as many users as possible.  Therefore, wherever possible, we will build two separate trails:  one surfaced and one dirt.  This way the motorized and non-motorized users can be separated.  West of Ishpeming, we can also accommodate equestrians through a mowed section along the non-motorized trail.

The trail will be signed with mile markers, kiosks at the eight proposed trail heads, parking areas, restrooms, lighting in some sections, interpretative panels, art projects, maps, and vegetation.

How will this benefit me, my family, and my community? This project has many benefits including:

1)      A safe recreation place for all members of the family from kids learning how to ride a bike, toddlers pushed in strollers, families walking or biking together, inline skaters and skiers, senior housing residents, and wheelchair users.  It is truly an asset for all generations.

2)      A safe transportation corridor away from automobile traffic.

3)      Preserves corridors for access forever. Many of our existing trails exist through short term easements with private landowners. Since they are not permanent, it is difficult to attract money to enhance them.  Plus, the private landowner can cancel the easement and thereby break the trail.  The Iron Ore Heritage Trail, through public ownership, will remain for future generations.

4)      Economic development for the community through tourism enhancement, opportunities for small business development, a community asset that enhances our quality of life for business attraction.

5)      A source of pride in our shared heritage of iron ore mining. It becomes an educational tool for schools, residents, visitors to learn about our unique and nationally important history.

6)      Brings government funds back to our area. With a project of this magnitude and across so many boundaries, the regional aspect wins points with funders plus the project has multiple components to bring in multiple funders including arts, preservation, economic development, green space conservation, transportation, and healthcare.

7)      By bringing trails to where people live, it is an opportunity for healthier residents. When recreation is accessible and easy, more people take advantage.

How will motorized use be controlled?  Motorized usage on the non-motorized trail can be regulated through berms, vegetation, fencing, signage and other barriers along the trail.  Also, the Recreation Authority can utilize State dollars to build ATV trails that become recognized by the State.  Once a trail is State funded and recognized, there is money for local patrolling by government agencies.  When trail systems are highly utilized, trail users also regulate the usage.

How are we going to fund?  Major funders of trail systems are

1)      The Federal Government through the ISTEA program (Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act which provides for gas tax monies to be used in non-motorized transportation. The money is funneled through the Michigan Department of Transportation and granted out to communities through the Transportation Enhancement funds).

2)      The State of Michigan through the Department of Natural Resources also provides grant funding through several recreational programs.

3)      State funding is also available for snowmobile and ATV trails through permit and gas tax money.

4)      There are also other State, Federal, and private funding sources that exist to fund trails, preserve green space, provide for cultural and historical preservation, healthier communities, and economic development

Will any local dollars be needed? All grant funding looks for the local community for match money. Match dollars range from 20% of the project to 50% or more. The Recreation Authority will look to provide the local dollars necessary through a .2 mill levy.  A .2 mill levy will raise approximately $250,000 annually to leverage over $1 million in other funds.

What does that mean for homeowners in my area?  A .2 mill tax levy translates to approximately $3 to $15 per homeowner depending on municipality. For this small investment of homeowners, we can leverage that money five times over through private, state and federal funders. An example is the portion of trail between Marquette and Negaunee.  We can gain $1.2 million in State and Federal funds by committing $300,000 of local money. 

Didn’t I Vote on this Already?  

In November of 2008, voters in ten municipalities were asked to levy .2 mills for the trail system.   While the overwhelming majority of the entire population voted for the request (by over 4000 votes), two municipalities did not have a majority of voters in favor, and therefore the request was denied in all the municipalities.  This year, we are only asking seven municipalities to vote on the issue. The two municipalities who did not support the request have withdrawn from the  Recreation Authority.  However, these other municipalities can vote in the future to join the Recreation Authority at any time.

For more information, please visit: http://www.ironoreheritage.com.