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Education The need for alternative transportation education and promotion reaches across several fields. Education is becoming an important element within the public transportation system. Rider/user education is needed so that bicyclists know and understand the Rules of the Road. Driver education is equally important, so that both groups know and anticipate each other's needs. Publicizing trail routes is essential to increase usage. Trail use can also be promoted by city agencies who encourage their employees to consider trail use as an alternative to driving. Rider safety can be taught through the public schools to promote trail usage. Overall, educated citizens can better advocate trail systems, and parks as a whole. Interpretive trails provide the opportunity to teach users about natural history, local culture, historical associations, and ecosystem awareness. Monitoring Trail proposals are often viewed with alarm by city residents who cite the possibility of increased crime rates and decreased property values. Monitoring is a technique used to answer questions and address the reservations that people have. Several types of monitoring should be put in place to address concerns about trails. Park ranger surveillance can make trails safer, in addition to appropriate lighting. A system similar to the Block Watch program could be established, especially where trails go through neighborhoods. Trails also pose concerns for those worrying about declining property values. A recent study conducted by the City of Seattle Engineering Department demonstrated that trails are often seen as amenities, and can increase the desirability of an area. Monitoring studies of property values near trails could be conducted to determine if the same is true in Everett. Maintenance monitoring is another important aspect. Monitoring for overuse, especially in environmentally sensitive areas can act as an early warning system to avoid irreparable impacts. Maintenance crews could conduct periodic checks to spot signs of excessive use--trampled vegetation, excess litter, etc. Monitoring for under use is also important. Under used areas may indicate a potential safety or access problem, which could easily be corrected. Monitoring is a valuable tool to compile site specific data, and can highlight problems before them become worse. GROWTH The regional growth now occurring in Everett and the surrounding areas has wide ranging implications for the transportation system. Additional land must be acquired to meet the anticipated needs. The following discussion explores the main issues, as they relate to trail development. Increased population and industrial expansion places greater demands on existing transportation systems. Desirable land previously considered for open space acquisition is also in demand for other growth related projects. As the supply of easily developable land diminishes, more pressure is brought to bear on environmentally sensitive areas. At the same time, these areas are coming under the protection of stringent land use regulations, requiring the City to take on a more stewardship oriented management role. Economic factors also come into play. The 1991 State Growth Management Act mandated that municipalities in designated growth areas must plan for the projected population influx. Facilities and infrastructure must be W:\PLANNING\TRAILS\COMP96.DOC 27