Survey shows strong support for off‑road paths; committee recommends phased plan centered on village park

Gary Schloss, representative of the South Russell Committee for Safe Pedestrian and Bicycle Transport, presented the results of a community survey and urged council to prioritize off‑road paths linking residents to South Russell Village Park and schools.

The survey ran from November through Feb. 14 and drew 373 household responses, Schloss said. "We had 373 household responses," he said. He told council that 91 percent of responding households reported at least one household member who walks or bikes in South Russell sometimes, often or daily, and that 56 percent of pedestrian and bicycle trips were inside neighborhoods while about 30 percent occurred on Bell Road.

Why it matters: Committee members said the responses show broad public desire for safer walking and biking infrastructure and argued that off‑road paths and safer intersections would enable more frequent active travel. The committee also flagged grant funding as a practical way to reduce local costs; Schloss noted the village already has $800,000 in federal funds for walking and biking projects.

Key findings presented to council included that off‑road paths were the single most cited improvement that would make residents walk or bike more often, and that the west segments of Bell Road and the segments connecting to South Russell Park had the highest measured support. The committee reported that 250 households indicated they would walk or bike more often to the park if an off‑road path existed.

The committee recommended a phased approach. Phase 1 would include an off‑road path on Bell Road from Fox Run past Kirby Elementary through South Russell Park and a path from Sugar Lakes to Sugarbush, plus crossings at Alderwood and at Gurnee (Gerney) Elementary. Combined, that phase would be under one mile and would connect more than half of responding households to parks and schools, Schloss said. Phase 2 would extend those connections west and east; Phase 3 would address Washington Street and neighborhood infrastructure.

Council and residents asked practical questions about easements, frontage impacts and grant conditions. Rick Smith, a resident who said he bikes extensively, cautioned that federal or state grant requirements can drive design standards and easement needs and that some grants require detailed crash or usage data. Catherine Garvey, who identified herself as a Sugarhouse resident, supported the phased approach as a way to make projects actionable and less costly to taxpayers.

The committee said it will provide council with its PowerPoint deck and the aggregated open‑ended comments. Schloss said the group is working with a landscape/transportation engineer, Rich Washington, who will use the survey results to shape a master plan; the committee planned a meeting to review draft recommendations.

Ending: The committee asked council to prioritize park and school connections and to use available grant funding. Council members praised the survey effort and requested copies of the materials and the committee’s comments so elected officials can examine next steps and grant strategies.