montgomery county today
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Benefits and Connectivity
Trails provide numerous benefits regarding health,
transportation, ecology, recreation, and the fiscal environment.
The direct beneficiary is the trail user, who in turn, indirectly
creates a beneficial connection to the local or regional economy.
Montgomery County invested years to plan and determine the
feasibility of creating a regional trail network that highlights its
ability to connect to places of interest and employment centers.
Connectivity is the foundation of the county’s proposed trail
system and the primary goal for implementing the
recommendations in the comprehensive plan. The higher
connectivity rate of local and regional trails, the greater the
enhancement of direct and indirect benefits to the users and
community.
Over 60% of trail users that responded to the Perkiomen Trail
2008 User Survey & Economic Impact Analysis and Schuylkill
River Trail 2009 User Survey & Economic Impact Analysis
reported an annual average of $400 spent on hard goods
(bicycle purchase; bike supplies) and an average of $10 spent on
soft goods (beverage; meal) per person, per trip.