Title
Supporting the concept of the nine-county region of Circuit Trails, working toward the completion of 500 miles of Trails in the Greater Philadelphia Region by 2025.
Body
WHEREAS, The Circuit Trails are a connected system of multi-purpose trails (largely off-road) located in the nine (9) counties that comprise the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) region, including Philadelphia, Bucks, Montgomery, Chester, Delaware, Mercer, Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester Counties; and
WHEREAS, The building of the Circuit Trails is considered to be one of the largest metropolitan-wide, multi-use trail building efforts in the country and very significant regional accomplishment; and
WHEREAS The DVRPC set a long term regional goal in the Connections 2040 Plan to complete the Circuit Trails by 2040, and to meet this goal, 180 new miles of Circuit trails need to be completed by 2025 to reach 500 miles (2/3's complete); and
WHEREAS, Thirty-three (33) miles of yet-to-be-constructed trail segments are within the City of Philadelphia's Circuit network; and
WHEREAS, The Circuit Trails provide equitable transportation options for all users and will connect communities to places of work, places to shop, places to worship, places to play, places of historic significance, and places to teach our children; and
WHEREAS, The Circuit Trails Coalition, DVRPC, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, New Jersey Department of Transportation, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and other agencies have committed to complete non-motorized options for transportation and recreation; and
WHEREAS, The Circuit Trails will provide safe facilities separated from vehicular traffic to encourage bicyclists, walkers, the physically challenged, and other non-motorized users of all ages to be more active and spend time outdoors, thereby improving their fitness and health; and...
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