Fayetteville plans citywide network of multi-use paths

Fayetteville has a new master path plan, adopted Aug. 1 by the City Council following the plan’s presentation for public input at several meetings and events.

Director of Community Development David Rast in a July 23 letter said city staff has been working with Jacobs Engineering and a citizen advisory committee for several months to develop a comprehensive master path plan for sidewalks, side paths and multi-use trails throughout the city, with the intent being to identify projects that will facilitate and promote interconnectivity between existing and proposed developments and to encourage the use of alternate transportation.

“The goal was to establish a network of multi-use paths throughout the city,” said Jacobs Engineering representative Michael Kray, who has worked with the city to bring the plan to fruition.

Connected throughout the city and connecting to the county path system, plan components included additional side paths (cart paths), greenways and sidewalks.

Priority project largely included areas along state highways and Hood Avenue/Hood Road.

Rast noted that the Fayetteville Master Path Plan complements the Master Path Plan component of the Fayette County Comprehensive Transportation Plan.

It incorporates projects that will interconnect existing and proposed sidewalk, side path and multi-use path projects throughout the county.

Adopted by unanimous vote, the next step will be to incorporate the components of the plan into the city’s ordinances, Capital Improvements Element and other documents which will provide an opportunity to pursue construction and funding through developer contributions, impact fees, grants and other mechanisms, Rast said.

Design and construction standards identified within the county plan are incorporated within the Master Path Plan to ensure sidewalk, side path and multi-use paths connections will be similar in design to those within the county, said Rast.