Study will gauge use of Indianapolis trails

INDIANAPOLIS - Indianapolis is one of a dozen cities across the country where use of trails and greenways will be studied by a national group.

The study, called the Trail Modeling and Assessment Platform, is being led by the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. The group says the study will establish the first-ever national network of trail traffic monitoring stations in the U.S. Similar tools have been used in road planning for decades.

The counters used by the study will be able to tell the difference between walkers and bicyclists.

Indy Parks Project Manager Andre Denman says the study will help demonstrate how trails and greenways connect people and neighborhoods, increase overall quality of life, and attract new residents.

Indianapolis will have monitoring stations placed on its Monon and Fall Creek trails.