Agenda Item # 2

Columbus Consolidated Government

Council Meeting

08/25/2015

Agenda Report # 16


TO: Mayor and Council

SUBJECT: Follow Me Trail

INITIATED BY: Planning Department

Recommendation: Approve the resolution to name the South Lumpkin Rails to Trails Transportation Investment Act (TIA) project to "Follow Me Trail".

Background: The Rails to Trails project uses the abandoned Fort Benning Light Railway to create a paved, 12 foot wide, multi-use trail that will extend from Torch Hill Road to Cusseta Road with a pedestrian bridge crossing at Victory Drive. The trail will add an additional 2.19 miles of trail to our network and provide a safe connection to local schools, nearby shopping, neighborhoods, and parks. The Planning Department reached out to the community through two online polls to seek a name for the trail with the final results showing the name “Follow Me Trail” as the most popular name among Columbus residents.

Analysis: After a poll of Columbus resident’s was conducted, it was found that the Follow Me Trail is the preferred name. Out of 193 votes, Follow Me Trail received 50% of the votes, Wounded Warrior Memorial Trail received 38% of the votes, and Chattahoochee Choo Choo received 11% of the votes.

Financial Considerations: Naming of the trail will allow the ordering of the necessary signage for the trail, a cost which is part of the overall project.

Projected Annual Fiscal Impact Statement: Replacement of signage may be required at annual minimum cost

Legal Considerations: None

Recommendations/ Actions: Approve the resolution to name the South Lumpkin Rails to Trails Transportation Investment Act (TIA) project to "Follow Me Trail".


A RESOLUTION

NO.


A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE NAMING OF THE RAILS TO TRAILS PROJECT RUNNING FROM TORCH HILL ROAD TO CUSSETA ROAD AS THE “FOLLOW ME TRAIL”

WHEREAS, the Transportation Investment Act of 2012 identified a Rails to Trails project that uses the abandoned Fort Benning Light Railway to create a paved, 12 foot wide, multi-use trail that will extend from Torch Hill Road to Cusseta Road with a pedestrian bridge crossing at Victory Drive; and,

WHEREAS, the trail will add an additional 2.19 miles of trail to our network and provide a safe connection to local schools, nearby shopping, neighborhoods, and parks; and,

WHEREAS, the naming of the trail provides a unique opportunity to honor the local area and history, the Planning Department reached out to the community through two online polls to seek a name for the trail with the final results showing the name “Follow Me Trail” as the most popular name among Columbus residents; and,

WHEREAS, “Follow Me” represents the Army Infantry motto and the infantry’s bravery on the front lines as they are often the first group to go into battle, while honoring the long standing relationship that Columbus has with Fort Benning and the Infantry School.

NOW, THEREFORE, THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:

The 2.19 mile Rails to Trails project on the former Fort Benning Light Railway extending from Torch Hill Road to Cusseta Road shall hereby be known as the “Follow Me Trail”



Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia, held the day of 2015, and adopted at said meeting by the affirmative vote of members of said Council.


Councilor Allen voting .
Councilor Baker voting .
Councilor Barnes voting .
Councilor Buck voting .
Councilor Davis voting .
Councilor Henderson voting .
Councilor Huff voting .
Councilor Thomas voting .
Councilor Turner-Pugh voting .
Councilor Woodson voting .

_______________________________ _________________________
Tiny B. Washington, Clerk of Council Teresa Pike Tomlinson, Mayor