2k-16L
Snapper Creek Crossing
(Typical Trail
Ludlam "frail has the opportunity to connect with five or more
trails and greenways. This t)?ical trail junction concept highlights
Ludlam Trail's connection and pairing with the future Snapper
Creek Trail and M Path Trail. A comfort station is located south of
the trail junction, while an opportunity to offer shore -line fishing is
provided with a flush platform adjacent to the Snapper Creek (C-
2) Canal. Parking will utilize existing spaces at the Dadeland Mall
and the Dadeland North Metrorail station parking garage. Trail user
amenities should be added to the station's parking garage such as;
bike storage and personal lockers, restrooms and showers, drinking
fountains and a vending area. A
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Snapper Creek Crossing
(Typical Trail
Ludlam "frail has the opportunity to connect with five or more
trails and greenways. This t)?ical trail junction concept highlights
Ludlam Trail's connection and pairing with the future Snapper
Creek Trail and M Path Trail. A comfort station is located south of
the trail junction, while an opportunity to offer shore -line fishing is
provided with a flush platform adjacent to the Snapper Creek (C-
2) Canal. Parking will utilize existing spaces at the Dadeland Mall
and the Dadeland North Metrorail station parking garage. Trail user
amenities should be added to the station's parking garage such as;
bike storage and personal lockers, restrooms and showers, drinking
fountains and a vending area. A
N.TS.
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South Miami Senior High Connection
(Typical School Connection)
There arefive (5) schools locatedwithin aquartermile oftheLudlam
Trail corridor. Many of these students will depend upon the trail to
provide a safe route to school each morning. Efforts have been taken
to ensure a safe connection to each school. This includes the use
of trail signage, connection sidewalks and separation of motorized
traffic from trail users. The school connection concept to the right
utilizes a bus lane connected to Miller Drive to the south and connect
to the school's existing parkii-ig and drop-off lot The concept plan
also shows a possible solution to trail design if easements were utilized.
A fifty (50) foot trail easementwould be planned for, allowing private
ownership of the corridor.
14
Trail guidelines and standards help determine
the specific needs of users and a community
at large. Although no standard methodology
exists for trail guidelines and standards, using a
transparent, methodical approach tends to yield
a thorough set of guidelines. The techniques
used for the Ludlam Trail Design Guidelines and
Standards included the following'
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The Ludlam Trail corridor, currently owned
by Flagler Development Group, extends from
Miami International Airport to the Dadeland
Mall. This corridor has been the subject of several
transportation studies which have identified
the corridor as an opportunity for a regionally
significant trail and greenway.
studies, corridor specific studies and design
guidelines. The Kendall Corridor Transportation
Alternatives Analysis noted the lack of potential
ridership as the basis in not selecting the Ludlam
corridor as a preferred route
The steering committee conducted a one day field
review of the Ludlam Trail corridor to observe
N.T.S.
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The Glatting Jackson and Rails-to-Trails
Conservancy team evaluated several acquisition
options and current land owner's needs to prepare
a comprehensive approach to acquire the Ludlam
Trail corridor. Options include quit claim deed,
easements, lease and license. Consideration was
given to the needs/ requirements of the seller to
retain the right of egress along the entire length
of corridor. A fee-simple purchase of the corridor
offers the best opportunity for meeting the
County's and sellers needs.
Corridor encroachment and conflicting land
uses are examples of conditions that arise along
the corridor, however, user safety is of the highest
importance while designing Ludlam Trail. With
the corridor's north to south layout, trail traffic
will travel perpendicular to the flow of automobile
traffic throughout south-central Miami-Dade
County; This leads to a large number of roadway
crossings which should be evaluated individually.
Throughout the 7.4 mile length of the Ludlam
Trail corridor there are four (4) direct school
connections, three (3) park connections, regional
transit, shopping facilities, and approximately
a dozen neighborhood connections, leading to
several opportunities to link the Ludlam Trail with
surrounding areas and form a vital transportation
alternative.
Intending to assist designers and decision makers
on principles, performance measures and best
practices, Gutting Jackson provided observational
research on how people use trails. Best practice
principles explore thresholds and enhanced
criteria to help guide decision-makers in designing
and placing a variety of trail elements and creating
street crossings accessible and safe to a variety of
potential trail users. Specific areas researched
include; pedestrian needs; bicyclists and wheeled
devices needs; Americans with Disabilities Act/
Universal design; intersections and crossings;
grade separated crossings; trail security issues; and
gateways.
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Several comparable trails were evaluated which
pertained to three areas of influence; national
comparable trails; Florida comparable trails; and
comparable trail facilities. Two national trails
studied were the Burke Gilman Trail, located in
Seattle, Washington and the Pinellas Trail, located
in Pinellas County, Florida. Both trails have
received numerous awards and recognition for
providing both transportation and recreational
opporturifties.
Two local or Florida based trails were also selected
for further study and included the Seminole
-Wekiva Trail in Seminole Count), and the West
Orange Trail in Orange Comity. Both trails offered
valuable research on safe roadway crossings and
types of trail amenities.
Spatial needs of pedestrians, bikers, and the
disable vary. Therefore, the greatest needs should
be planned for with identifying features for all
groups of users incorporated. An example of this
thorough planning can be found in a trail's width.
A typical person needs just over four (4) feet of trail
width to walk, while a disabled person may need
over five (5) feet. In addition, people typicallywalk
two abreast, increasing the needed trail width to
six (6) feet. Bicyclist have their own spatial needs,
from four (4) feet for single-file travel to six (6)
feet in each direction for passing room riding two
abreast. These spatial needs were then considered
along with- clear-zones for vegetation and shy-
zones for bridges and tunnels to develop a set of
recommendations specific to Ludlam Trail,
A unique, yet comparable trail facility was also
selected for research. The Chicago Bike Hub,
known as the McDonald's Cycle Center, offers a
unique opportunity for transit and trail users to
a bike-hub complete with bike lockers, a repair
center, restrooms, retail and vending areas.
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COMPARABLES
Through the review and analysis of several
comparable trails and facilities, 'lessons learned'
were compiled and opportunities identified
for the design of Ludlam Trail, These include
important findings on trail widths, separation of
facilities, trail surface materials, trail furnishings
and amenities, and street crossings.
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Building upon this historical aspect, the at-grade crossing concept utilizes the medi
as a refuge island with 'hotbutton'pedestrian or bicyclist activated actuators for tral
signals. Additional user safety elements include embedded pedestrian crossw,
warning lights, a divided decision making area for users to decide safe crossing tin
N and an angled median crossing for maximum vehicle and user visibility.
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A.D. Barnes Park Connecti
(Ty• ical Park C6nnectin) I
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AD. Barnes Park is an environmentally significant area of Miami-
Dade County. Building upon a recently completed update to the
park's general plan, the Ludlam ' Trail corridor is the crossing point
for neighborhood connectivity to the eastern side of the park with
a comfort station, shown to the right. Trail users will have access to
park amenities which will serve as trail amenities such as a ti ailhead/
,isitor center and Eco-Hub for the park, with parking, restrooms,
information and indoor programmable space. Access to the Coral
Gables (C-3) Canal via a canoe and kayak launch and fishing piers is
achieved through the development of a perimeter path for the park
accessible by Ludlam Trail.
Each recommendation is incorporated into the
design guidelines and includes information on trail
width, trail materials, trail lighting, access barriers,
signage and wayfinding, corridor vegetation,
trail amenities, street crossings, school and park
connections, and trail marketing.
Study Areas selected include:
West Flagler Street
SW l6th St.
Coral Way (SW 24th St.)
A.D. Barnes Park
Bird Road (SW 40th St.)
South Miami Senior High School
SW 76th St.
Snapper Creek (C-2) Canal
Additional trail facilities or areas of interest were
identified for farther study and included:
SIV 6th St. Railroad crossing
A.D. Barnes Park Trailhead
outreach plan to build community support for
the Ludlam Trail. Steps include identifying key
stakeholders, issue identification, informational
survey development, a public workshop, advisory
board briefings, Commission Board briefings,
letters of support from community leaders, a
sample Resolution and sample newsletter article.
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