Bicycle and Pedestrian

The WWW study area has been transforming with the development of new bicycle and pedestrian facilities through the planning efforts by several bicycle and pedestrian councils in Wood and Washington Counties.  They include the Parkersburg Bicycle Advisory Board; the Mayor’s Alternative Transportation Advisory Council (MATAC) in Marietta, OH; the Devola Multi-Use Trail Group; the Industrial Heartland Trails Coalition, which is a multi-state effort; the Wood County Alternative Transportation Council; and the Belpre Bicycle Council in Belpre, OH.  These councils are formed by citizens, local law enforcement, local officials, and members of various bicycle and pedestrian related organizations such as the Marietta Rowing and Cycling Club, the Blennerhassett Bicycle Club, the River Valley Mountain Bike Association, the All-Seasons Outdoor Club, and River City Runners.

The Parkersburg Bicycle Council was formed in 2010 and has actively pursued the development of new facilities, planning future facilities, and outreach.  The Parkersburg Bicycle Council has pushed forward a Complete Streets Policy and Bicycle Operations Ordinance for approval by the City Council in 2012.  The Parkersburg Bicycle Council has adopted the Blueprint for a Bicycle Friendly America, which has guidance established by the League of American Bicyclists that outlines policies and examples of what the nation has been doing to develop bicycle friendly communities.  Members of the Council have actively participated in obtaining grants and volunteers to support the mission of the Parkersburg Bicycle Council to provide engineering, education, enforcement, encouragement, and evaluation of our community and program to serve the city and the region.  The Council has worked to hold traffic skills courses, support safe routes to schools events, develop a strong network of facilities for commuting and recreation, sponsor bike to work day, and sponsor policies to sustain the development of bicycle and pedestrian facilities.  While a formalized bicycle master plan is still in development, facilities have been planned for future development while others are currently under construction or are being signed.

In Marietta, the Mayors Alternative Transportation Advisory Committee (MATAC) has adopted an Alternative Transportation Plan, which highlights connections for bicycle and pedestrian facilities within the city of Marietta and the surrounding communities.  Network destinations described in the plan include the Existing and Planned River Trail from Indian Acres Park to Gunlock Park, and the proposed North Extension to the River Trail from Indian Acres Park to Devol’s Dam.  The Alternative Transportation Plan also includes a discussion of the Short Term Plan, Long Distance Trails, and regional connections.

The Devola Multi-Use Trail group has developed and constructed the first phase of a trail that begins at the Broughton Nature and Wildlife Park and extends northward to Devola.  Plans are currently underway to connect this facility to Marietta’s River Trail and Devola’s Dam.  This group has actively pursued grant funding and private donations to construct the existing network.  A study is underway to connect Marietta’s River Trail to the Devola Multi-Use Trail and beyond to Devola’s Dam.

The Industrial Heartland Trails Coalition (I Heart Trails Coalition) is a collaboration of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC) and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC), which is striving to complete a 1,600 mile network of trails in five states including Maryland, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.  Parkersburg, WV will serve as mile marker 0 for the Parkersburg to Pittsburgh Loop, which includes two routes; one northward toward Pittsburgh, PA and one eastward toward Clarksburg, WV.

The Wood County Alternative Transportation Council is a body working to establish bicycle and pedestrian connections throughout the Wood County.  It developed/adopted a master plan from a survey and study conducted by a local contractor and sponsored by a health department grant.  The master plan contained an inventory of existing and planned facilities in the Wood County area.  This inventory was presented to a group of local stakeholders, who selected three priorities for further examination and cost estimation. These alternatives as well as others are examined further in Chapter VII and VIII.

The Belpre Chamber of Commerce has spearheaded an effort to develop a bicycle and pedestrian network within the city as well as connect to the Athens Rail Trail as it enters Washington County, OH.