Trails and Bikeways Map Data Inventory

The Mid-America Regional Council’s Trails and Bikeways Map is truly a regional effort. MARC works with city and county governments to collect the most current information, then compiles and standardizes it to produce a regional map that shows more than 2,000 miles of trails and bikeways. 

Importance of complete and accurate data 

An accurate trail and bikeway inventory is important to both local and regional planning initiatives. The inventory helps measure the growth of on-road and off-road systems. It also helps identify opportunities to provide connections between cities and counties through regional planning. 

Trail users rely on this information. MARC coordinates the distribution of more than 20,000 printed maps to communities across the region. The information is used to update the online version of the Regional Trails and Bikeways Map.

An accurate and complete off-road trails inventory is also vital for 911 responders who rely on this information to locate people during emergencies. 

How to submit trails and bikeways data 

MARC accepts existing and planned trails and bikeways information in virtually any format but prefers GIS data. If data is already posted online as a map service or download, MARC will retrieve it with no further action needed from you. 

Requested trails and bikeways attributes 

MARC GIS staff merge local jurisdiction trail and bikeway data into a regional dataset using standardized terminology. 

General information

  • Facility name — a shared-use path may be named after the stream it follows, a rail corridor or the roadway it parallels, or it may have another unique name. All bike lanes, signed bike routes, and other identified shared roadways will default to the roadway name unless otherwise specified. 
  • Managing entity — the department or agency within a government organization responsible for the maintenance of a facility. 
  • Contact name — the individual responsible for inquiries. (This information is for MARC use only) 
  • Contact phone — the phone number and extension of the contact individual. (This information is for MARC use only) 
  • Contact email — the email address of the contact individual. (This information is for MARC use only) 

Status

  • E = Existing — facilities are existing and open for public use. 
  • PL = Planned — facilities are in any one or more development phases: project programming, preliminary engineering, construction design, or under construction. 
  • PR = Proposed — facilities are part of a long-term vision for a future bikeway network. The source of the community plan should be provided. 

If you maintain separate files for existing, planned and proposed facilities, please submit each separately. There is no need to combine datasets. We encourage communities to submit trail and bikeway community plans to ensure we have a comprehensive inventory of local plans that reflect any recent updates. 

Design type

A combination of design types may be used. For example, if mountain biking and hiking are permitted on the same trail the design type would be MBT-PHT. A roadway with shared lane markings and bike route signs would be coded SBR-SLM.

Example images of each design type 

  • SUP (Shared Use Path) — A bikeway physically separated from motorized vehicular traffic by an open space or barrier, and either within the highway right-of-way or within an independent right-of-way. Shared use paths are also used for transportation and/or recreation by pedestrians, skaters, wheelchair users (both non-motorized and motorized), joggers and other non-motorized users. AASHTO recommends a minimum of 10 feet width (in rare cases, 8 feet). 
  • MBT (Mountain Bike Trail) — A bikeway that is solely designed and designated for the sport of mountain biking. 
  • PHT (Pedestrian Hike Trail) — A trail designated for pedestrian use only. 
  • ET (Equestrian Trail) — A trail designated for use by equestrians. 
  • BL (Bike Lane) — A portion of a roadway that has been designated by pavement markings and, if used, signs, for the preferential or exclusive use of bicyclists. 
  • B-BL (Buffered Bike Lane) — A conventional bicycle lane paired with a designated buffer space separating the bicycle lane from the adjacent motor vehicle travel lane and/or parking lane. 
  • SBR (Signed Bike Route) — A roadway or bikeway designated either with a unique route designation or with BIKE ROUTE signs, along which bicycle guide signs may provide directional and distance information. Signs that provide directional, distance, and destination information for cyclists do not necessarily establish a bicycle route. 
  • SR (Shared Roadway) — A roadway that is open to both bicycle and motor vehicle travel. This may be an existing roadway (with “Share the Road” signs, shared lane marking or other approved MUTCD traffic control device), a street with wide curb lanes, or a road with paved shoulders lane of a traveled way that is open to bicycle travel and vehicular use. 
  • SLM (Shared Lane Marking) — A pavement marking symbol that indicates an appropriate bicycle positioning in a shared lane. This type has been added to accommodate the growing prevalence of this treatment in the greater Kansas City area. If this treatment is used in conjunction with bike route signs or share the road signs please use the following convention. Possible Entries include ‘SLM,’ ‘SBR-SLM’ or ‘SR-SLM.’ 

Other information

  • Speed limit — the posted speed limit of the roadway. 
  • Number of lanes on road — the total number of through lanes on a roadway, traveling in both directions (if applicable). If divided, linework should show two distinct centerlines. 
  • On-street parking percentage or location — if on-street parking is allowed along a roadway, indicate a percentage value that represents how much of the length of the segment allows parking, 50% per side.  
  • Road shoulder width — the average width of a shoulder (the portion of pavement between the outer edge of the traffic lane to the edge of pavement) along a roadway.
  • Road pavement condition — Indicate road pavement conditions.
  • Presence of buffer between pavement and sidewalk — Is there a separation between a curb and a sidewalk or trail? If so, what is the width of the buffer? 
  • Truck routes — Indicate any routes for heavy truck (3+ axles) traffic. 
  • Number of bicycle lanes — Indicate if there are bicycle lanes in one direction or both or on one side or both.
  • Sidewalk presence — Indicate where existing sidewalks are located. 
  • Sidewalk width — Indicate the width of existing sidewalks 
  • Crosswalk locations — Indicate the presence of sidewalks crossing roadways. If refuge islands, medians, hawk or other type beacons are present to assist pedestrian safety, identify those locations as well. 

Surface type 

  • A = Asphalt 
  • CO = Concrete 
  • CR = Crushed limestone 
  • O= Other