6  Data Evaluation and Project Profile Development

6.1  Project Development Methodology

6.1.1  Connectivity Driven

Projects suggested in this plan will address need on a priority and practicality basis. Those areas that have current high use and a potential to provide the most benefit to the most residents of Duchesne County will be prioritized higher than those projects that will serve less residents and users. Several different types of prioritized connectivity evaluation are addressed in this section.

6.1.1.1Neighborhood Connectivity

The residential areas in Duchesne County traditionally thought of as neighborhoods are mostly located in Roosevelt City, Duchesne City, Myton, Altamont, Neola, and Tabiona. Most of the remaining population in Duchesne County is more spread out and population density is low. Many of the subdivisions in Roosevelt City and Duchesne City Areas are connected with sidewalks or wide shoulders to allow alternative transportation connections to areas outside the subdivisions, but there are deficiencies that can be addressed such as missing sidewalk sections, narrow shoulders and some narrow-maintained Rights of Ways.

Outside of Roosevelt City there are subdivisions that are disconnected from other neighborhoods and destinations by distance. The distance challenge can be addressed by widened shoulders, and/or bike lanes, and in the future possibly trails, but currently the distance aspect limits pedestrian use to and from these neighborhoods.

Neighborhood connectivity projects include those that interconnect neighborhoods, and from neighborhoods to outside destinations including parks, schools, churches, recreation, community amenities and commercial areas. These types of connections are the primary connections sought to be addressed by this plan and these trails and routes projects may also address other needs in addition to neighborhood connectivity.

6.1.1.2Recreation/Opportunity and Public Land Access Connectivity

An identified deficiency in trails and routes within Duchesne County includes the connectivity to public lands. A majority of the popular trails in Duchesne County are located on public lands and unfortunately the safest way to access those areas currently is to drive to these locations such as the Uinta Mountains and Wells Draw. Opportunity exists to provide trails and routes from the residential areas, commercial areas, and alternative transportation corridors to the public lands facilities to address that need.

These types of projects are also often funded through sources that may be different from those that address the neighborhood connectivity issues usually associated with city and county roads. They also require careful planning to address motorized and non-motorized needs which may or may not be compatible depending on the circumstances of each project.

This plan has inventoried the existing trails in the county, those trails and areas that are functioning well and had little or no comment for suggested improvement will not be included in priority projects since they are functioning well and are a good existing base of trails to connect to and build upon. As previously mentioned, these trails are mainly on Forest lands with a few trails on BLM lands along existing county roads.