Stookey Township Bike Trail Feasibility Study

Summary

Stookey Township retained Kaskaskia Engineering Group, LLC (KEG) to investigate and evaluate the feasibility of various connections and associated construction cost estimates to provide pedestrian and/or bicycle accommodations within the Township limits.

The primary purpose of this study was to identify feasible conceptual alignments to provide connections between neighborhoods, schools, and recreation sites in Stookey Township; whereby, connecting to the existing and planned City of Belleville path network (i.e. Signal Hill Bike Trail, West Belleville Bike Trail, and MetroLink Bike Trail).

Project

The existing roadways in Stookey Township within the feasibility study location do not provide any pedestrian and/or bicycle accommodations.  Therefore, for this feasibility study, the proposed connections are intended to serve primarily as shared-use paths for pedestrians and bicyclists separated from motorized traffic.  The proposed shared-use path connections were projected to offer options to the community for pedestrian and bicycle travel and encourage environmental stewardship in trail users of all ages.

KEG studied the area to gain a greater appreciation of the potential to implement trail connectivity within Stookey Township and conducted this in four steps.  The first step identified and evaluated the existing conditions.  The second step involved the development of shared-use path connections.  The third step evaluated the connections, which included construction cost estimates.  The final step was the review of funding possibilities and recommendations.

KEG also considered the following criteria during the evaluation process:

Geometry/Traffic – Safety was the primary objective in selecting and designing the shared-use paths.  The main focus was to eliminate or minimize potential conflicts between shared path users and motorists.

Accessibility/Connectivity – Access to the shared-use path was essential.  Users should be able to enter the facility at or near residential areas and travel to destinations such as schools, recreational facilities, parks, or existing trails, and all connections must conform to ADA requirements.

Compatibility with Community Goals – The location and design of the shared use paths reflect local, regional, and state goals of existing and future plans along with the proposed connections.

Construction Costs – The cost associated with the establishment of a shared-use path is an important criterion in evaluating the connections.