Connecticut Trail

Trails are line features in the Statewide Trails Database that describe the location of single and multi-use trails, access trails, connector trails, and regional trails. These features may also describe bike routes along public roads and their relationship with connecting multi-use paved trails used for walking, running, inline-skating, and bicyling, for example. Trail features describe hiking trails, nature trails, bike routes, and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible trails such as certain walkways, boardwalks and stone dust surfaced trails. Individual trail features are described in terms of their surface type (unpaved, paved, unpaved road, paved road, etc.) and whether activities such as hiking, walking, running, inline skating, bicycling, mountain biking, motorbiking, all terraine vehicle use, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, and horseback riding are permitted. Also indicates whether leashed or unleashed dogs are allowed.

Statewide Trails Database model version number 1.0. Refer to the Getting_Started.htm document for how to prepare and load existing trail data into the Statewide Trails Database format. A Statewide Trails extension (statewidetrails.avx) is also available for ArcView 3x software for creating identical field attributes in Shapefile format. The extension is useful in preparing data initially collected and maintained in Shapefile format for loading into GeoDatabase Feature Class format.

Connecticut Trail

Line features that describe the location of single and multi-use trails, access trails, connector trails, regional trails, and bike routes. (Source: State of Connecticut, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and other trail data collecting agencies and organizations in Connecticut.)

OBJECTID

Internal feature number. (Source: ESRI)

Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.

TRAILSYSID

Trail System Id - An Id that associates and relates the Trail line feature to a Trail System. This is a required field that matches a value in the Trail_System table. All Trail line features that are part of a Trail System are assigned the same Trail System Id. Note, an agency or organization wishing to provide data for inclusion in the Connecticut Statewide Trails database must use Trail System Ids assigned by the State of Connecticut, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection that do not conflict with Ids used by other trail data providers. Please contact the Connecticut Department of Energy Environmental Protection at 860-424-3540 to obtain a block of Trail Systems Ids for your use. Trail System Ids are allocated to data providers in blocks of 50. (Source: State of Connecticut, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection)

Value	Definition
1 - 100	Block of 100 Trail System Ids reserved for trail systems submitted by CT DEP
101 - 150	First block of 50 Trail System Ids.
151 - 200	Second block of 50 Trail System Ids.
201 - 250	Third block of 50 Trail System Ids.
251 - 300	Fourth block of 50 Trail System Ids.
etc.	Continued allocation of Trail System Ids in blocks of 50, as required.

TRAILNAME

Trail Name - The official or formal name for the trail. The trail name field is primarily used for labeling trail names on a map. Leave blank if trail is unnamed. Do not enter "Unnamed Trail" or "Unnamed". Avoid naming a trail "Access Trail" or "Connector Trail". Use the Trail Class field to make that type of distinction. For unnamed trails with trail markers (such a green dot), do not name the trail "Green Dot Trail". Use the Trail Marker field for this purpose.  If a trail represents a section of two named trails, separate the trail names with a forward slash (/) such as with "Laurel Loop Trail / Beaver Pond Trail". (Source: State of Connecticut, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection)

Example: Laurel Loop Trail

ROADNAME

Road Name - The name of the road if the value for the Trail Surface field is either Unpaved Road or Paved Road. Leave blank if road is unnamed. This field is use to either name the park or forest road that a hiking trail is on or along or name the public road that a bike route is on. Bike routes are a type of Trail Class. (Source: State of Connecticut, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection)

Example: Sunset Park Road

TRAILCLASS

Trail Class - Trail classification system used to cartographically represent (symbolize) trail line features on maps. Line features can be symbolized in varying colors and widths depending on these values. (Source: State of Connecticut, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection)

Value	Definition
Access Trail	A relatively short trail used to access a system of trails, typically from a parking area at a trail head to a main trail.
Bike Route	A paved, public, road used solely for bicycling. Typically a single-use bike route on a public road. Not an unpaved trail used for mountain biking. And not to be confused with a paved multi-use trail used for walking, running, inline skating and bicycling.
Connector Trail	Typically, a hiking trail used to connect from one trail system to another or from a system of state park trails to a regional trail.
Path	A short walking path, typically at a park. Can be paved or unpaved.
Regional Trail	A regional hiking trail such a Blue-Blazed Hiking trail.
Trail	A single use or multi-use trail. Use this to describe most features. This is the default value.

TRAILSURF

Trail Surface - Generally indicates whether the trail surface is Paved, Unpaved or along a Paved Road or Unpaved Road. Other surface types include Boardwalk, Stone and Stone Dust. Note that a Stone Dust surface is distinguished from Paved and Unpaved surfaces because this surface is likely but not always ADA accessible. A surface composed of cobbles and larger than gravel-sized particles is more difficult to traverse than an Unpaved (dirt trail) or Stone Dust (path) and should be described as Stone.  (Source: State of Connecticut, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection)

Value	Definition
Boardwalk	Wooden plank, metal or other hard and reinforced walkway.
Paved	Asphalt, concrete, brick, bituminus, or other hard trail surface such as a sidewalk or paved railroad grade. Not a road.
Paved Road	Asphalt, concrete, bituminous road surface also used for vehicular traffic. Use this trail surface class to describe the section of trail that follows along side a public road where an upaved hiking trail crosses a public road at two different locations, for example. Or use this surface class to describe a bike route on a public road.
Unpaved	Earthen, dirt, gravel, other soft natural trail surface. Not a road. Use this surface class for a typical hiking trail. Surface usually not hard enough to be ADA accessible. This is the default value.
Unpaved Road	Earthen, dirt, gravel, other soft natural surface used for vehicular traffic. Use this surface class for the section of a hiking trail that follows a dirt or gavel road in a State Park, for example. Surface usually not hard enough to be ADA accessible.
Stone	Large stone and rocky trail surface. Composed mainly of stones and cobbles larger than gravel-sized particles of the Unpaved surface class. Not a road. Surface usually not hard enough to be ADA accessible.
Stone Dust	Packed stone dust trail surface. Not a road. Typically hard enough to be ADA accessible.

TRAILSTAT

Trail Construction Status - Indicates whether the trail is Potential, Committed, or Constructed. Most trails in the Statewide Trails Database are constructed trails, which is the default field value. This field is included in the database for agencies desiring to maintain information about existing and proposed trails in a single database for planning and project management purposes. (Source: State of Connecticut, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection)

Value	Definition
Potential	Trail is recognized as a good idea or part of a plan but without funding for construction.
Funds Committed	Trail to be constructed, funding committed.
Constructed	Trail constructed and in use. This is the default value.

PUBACCESS

Public Access Permitted - Indicates whether the trail feature is open to the general public. This is a True-False field. Typically, most trail features are open. However, some sections may be temporarily or permanently closed for maintenance or safety reasons, and this field is used to denote those areas that are closed off to the public. Note that a similar field exists in the Trail System data table to denote the closure of an entire trail system. Additionally, Trail Access point features include a field named Open When to indicate whether particular points of access are open year-round or seasonally. (Source: State of Connecticut, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection)

Value	Definition
True	Public can access trail. This is the default value.
False	Trail closed to public.
Unknown	True - False value is unknown

HIKE

Hiking Appropriate - Indicates whether trail feature is appropriate for hiking. (Source: State of Connecticut, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection)

Value	Definition
True	Hiking is permitted. This is the default value.
False	Hiking not permitted.
Unknown	True - False value is unknown

WALK

Walking Appropriate - Indicates whether trail feature is appropriate for walking. Walking activity implies a short (possibly loop) trail or path with little or no grade that can be traveled with minimal effort. Not all trails are appropriate for this type of leisurely activity. (Source: State of Connecticut, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection)

Value	Definition
True	Trail condition and grade consistent with leisurely walking activity.
False	Trail condition and grade inconsistent with leisurely walking activity. This is the default value.
Unknown	True - False value is unknown

RUN

Running Appropriate - Indicates whether trail feature is appropriate for running and jogging. (Source: State of Connecticut, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection)

Value	Definition
True	Running, jogging permitted.
False	Running, jogging not permitted. This is the default value.
Unknown	True - False value is unknown

INLINSKATE

Inline Skating Permitted - Indicates whether inline skating is permitted on trail feature. (Source: State of Connecticut, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection)

Value	Definition
True	Inline skating (rollerblading) permitted.
False	Inline skating not permitted. This is the default value.
Unknown	True - False value is unknown

BIKE

Bicycling Permitted - Indicates whether bicycling is permitted on trail feature. Must be set to True if Trail Class is Bike Route. Bicycling suggests use of a street bike (usually with narrow tires) on a hard surface. (Source: State of Connecticut, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection)

Value	Definition
True	Bicycling permitted.
False	Bicycling not permitted. This is the default value.
Unknown	True - False value is unknown

MTNBIKE

Mountain Biking Permitted - Indicates whether mountain biking is permitted on trail feature. (Source: State of Connecticut, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection)

Value	Definition
True	Moutain biking permitted.
False	Moutain biking not permitted. This is the default value.
Unknown	True - False value is unknown

MOTORBIKE

Motorbiking Permitted - Indicates whether motorcycling is permitted on trail feature. (Source: State of Connecticut, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection)

Value	Definition
True	Motorcycling permitted.
False	Motorcycling not permitted. This is the default value.
Unknown	True - False value is unknown

ALLTERVEH

All Terrain Vehicle Permitted - Indicates whether All Terrain Vehicles are permitted on trail feature. (Source: State of Connecticut, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection)

Value	Definition
True	All Terrain Vehicles permitted.
False	All Terrain Vehicles not permitted. This is the default value.
Unknown	True - False value is unknown

SNOWMOBILE

Snowmobiling Permitted - Indicates whether snowmobiling is permitted on trail feature. (Source: State of Connecticut, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection)

Value	Definition
True	Snowmobiling permitted.
False	Snowmobiling not permitted. This is the default value.
Unknown	True - False value is unknown

CROSSCSKI

Cross Country Skiing Permitted - Indicates whether cross-country skiing is a permitted on trail feature. (Source: State of Connecticut, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection)

Value	Definition
True	Cross-country skiing permitted
False	Cross-country skiing not permitted. This is the default value.
Unknown	True - False value is unknown

EQUESTRIAN

Equestrian Permitted - Indicates whether horseback riding is a permitted on trail feature. (Source: State of Connecticut, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection)

Value	Definition
True	Horseback riding permitted.
False	Horseback riding not permitted. This is the default value.
Unknown	True - False value is unknown

ADAACCESS

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Accessible - Indicates whether a handicapped accessible trail, boardwalk, sidewalk, etc. (Source: State of Connecticut, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection)

Value	Definition
True	ADA accessible.
False	Not ADA accessible. This is the default value.
Unknown	True - False value is unknown

DOGLEASH

Leashed Dogs Permitted - Indicates whether leashed dogs are permitted on trail feature. (Source: State of Connecticut, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection)

Value	Definition
True	Leashed dogs permitted.
False	Leashed dogs not permitted. This is the default value.
Unknown	True - False value is unknown

DOGUNLEASH

Unleashed Dogs Permitted - Indicates whether unleashed dogs are permitted on trail feature. (Source: State of Connecticut, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection)

Value	Definition
True	Unleashed dogs permitted.
False	Unleashed dogs not permitted. This is the default value.
Unknown	True - False value is unknown

NATURTRAIL

Nature Trail - Indicates whether feature is a self-guided, interpretive, nature trail. (Source: State of Connecticut, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection)

Value	Definition
True	Trail is self-guided, interpretive, nature trail.
False	Trail is not self-guided, interpretive, nature trail. This is the default value.
Unknown	True - False value is unknown

TIMEPERIOD

Data Time Period - The time period during which data was collected in the field with GPS equipment or automated using GIS software to digitize or copy the feature from another data source. (Source: State of Connecticut, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection)

Example: Summer 2003

HORIZACCUR

Horizontal Accuracy Notes - A notes field used to describe the data collection method, data sources and horizontal accuracy of the individual line feature, based on the type of equipment and environmental conditions present if GPS was used to collect information in the field, or the horizontal accuracy of geo-referenced aerial photographs, maps, and existing road data upon which digitized trail features are based.  (Source: State of Connecticut, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection)

Examples: GPS at 1-4m accuracy; Interpreted and digitized from 2004 aerial photographs at +- 20ft; Derived from 1:24,000 road and trail centerlines, which are within +- 40ft

SPECIALPERMIT

 (Source: State of Connecticut, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection)

TRAILCOMMENTS

 (Source: State of Connecticut, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection)

TRAILMARK

Trail Marker - Describes the trail marker for the trail as an uppercase, alphanumeric such as "R" for the red dot trail or "1" for trail number 1 or "1A" for trail 1A, and so on. Use abbreviated color names. Do not enter full color names because the Trail Marker field is primarily used for labeling trail markers (e.g. R, B, W, 1A) on a map. Use "B" for blue, "BL" for black, and "BR" for brown. Use a forward slash (/) to separate colors such as "B/R" for Blue Red. Leave blank if trail is unmarked. (Source: State of Connecticut, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection)

Example: B or B/R

SHAPE

Feature geometry. (Source: ESRI)

Coordinates defining the features.

SHAPE.len

Table Relationships: 1. Trail line features are joined to the Trail_System table via the TrailSysId field. Attributes: 1. Trail System Id - Uniquely identifies a logical system of trails and is a common identifier found in all tables. All Trail line, Trail Access point, Trail Interest point, and Roadway line features for a given Trail System are assigned the same Trail System Id. An agency or organization wishing to provide trail data for inclusion in the Connecticut Statewide Trails Database must use Trail System Ids assigned by the State of Connecticut, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection so that they do conflict with Trail System Ids used by other trail data providers. Please contact the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection at 860-424-3540 to obtain a block of Trail Systems Ids for your use. Trail System Ids are allocated to data providers in blocks of 50. 2. Field Types - Most fields are text fields except for Trail System Id (TrailSysId) and the Town Number (TownNo) field in the Trail Access Point feature class. 3. Text Fields - Most fields without domains are free-form text fields. Depending on the field, certain rules and conventions need to be applied when entering data in these fields. For example, the Trail Marker (TrailMark) field in the Trail line feature class is to be left blank if a trail is not marked. Do not populate the field with the words "unmarked" or "unblazed", for example. Leave all free-form text fields blank if information is not applicable. 4. Field Domain Range - Attribute domains represent a fixed list of values to choose from for a particular field. Domain values are case sensitive text field values that must be entered exactly as specified in the metadata enumerated domains. For example the Bike attribute uses a true-false domain that stores text information as either "True" or "False", not "TRUE" or "FALSE"; "true" or "false"; "yes" or "no", or 0 or -1, etc. Any value other than "True" or "False" is invalid, with the exception of the NULL option, which is a field value that is only available to data in GeoDatabase and not Shapefile format. Adhering to domain values is important to keep in mind when using the field Calculate option in ArcView 3x or ArcGIS 9x to assign domain attribute values to selected features at once. It is easy to inadvertently calculate values outside the range of a field's domain. 5. Default Values - The default domain values for each field is indicated in the metadata for the field such as "True" for the Hiking or "Unpaved" for the Trail Surface (TrailSurf) field in the Trail line feature class. These are the default values when adding new table records or digitizing new features. 6. Null Field Values - For fields with enumerated domains in GeoDatabase format, NULL is a valid domain value that can be used to signify information is unknown. NULL implies that the information is Unknown. It does not imply that the information is not applicable. 7. Null Field Values (Shapefile format) - For fields with enumerated domains in Shapefile format, NULL is not a valid value so do not enter NULL or "NULL" even though NULL is allowed in GeoDatabase format. For data in Shapefile, leave the field blank if the value is unknown.

Horizontal accuracy varies depending on the methodology used by data collectors to compile, map and digitize individual trail systems. Information was prepared by collecting trail positions in the field using GPS equipment, digitizing trail maps, compiling information onto a planimetric correct base and digitizing, or by copying previously digitized road and trail centerline features. A conservative estimate of overall horizontal accuracy is based on the assumption that Trail line feature data is generally collected at scales that are at least as accurate as 1:24,000 scale (1 inch = 2,000 feet), which is the scale of the USGS 7.5 minute topographic quadrangle map. But this is only an assumption on the part of the State of Connecticut, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP), which coordinated the design of the Statewide Trails Database. For example, GPS data collected by CT DEEP is generally expected to be at 1-4m accuracy, data interpreted and digitized from 2004 aerial photographs at +- 20ft, and data derived from 1:24,000-scale road and trail centerlines at +- 40ft. Refer to the Horizontal Accuracy Notes attribute in both the Trail line feature and Roadway line feature classes for more specific horizontal accuracy assessments when mapping individual trail systems at larger (more accurate) scales. This field describes the data collection method, data sources and horizontal accuracy of the individual line feature, based on the type of equipment and environmental conditions present if GPS was used to collect information in the field, or the horizontal accuracy of geo-referenced aerial photographs, maps, and existing road data upon which digitized trail features are based.

As complete as data is collected by data collectors and supplied by data providers to the Statewide Trails Database. Because it is designed to include more and more information over time, the Statewide Trails Database does not represent a complete inventory of all greenways, trails, and bike routes. Rather, it is intended to be a Statewide repository of currently available information.

Trail line features are very simple line features that connect to each other at their end points. Line features are expected to conform to the following topological rules. Lines are single part. There are no duplicate lines. Lines do not self overlap. Lines do not overlap other lines. Lines intersect only at nodes, and nodes anchor the ends of all lines. Lines do not overshoot or undershoot other lines they are supposed to meet and intersect. For example, a trail intersection is composed of four intersecting trail features that share a common end point location where the four features meet and intersect. A "T" intersection is composed of three intersecting trail features that share a common end point. Between intersections, a change in condition along the length of a trail is also reason for creating separate Trail line features where two features are necessary to describe where an unpaved trail changes to a stone dust surface, for example. Individual Trail features connect to each other, forming a fishnet of trails that together form larger trail systems. By using the trail feature attributes, these features indicate where trail class, trail surface, and trail use conditions changes such as when an unpaved trail only used for hiking intersects or crosses a multi-use trail on an unpaved road used for hiking and mountain biking, or where selected portions of more than one trail together define a trail for where snowmobiling is permitted. Trail line features do not duplicate or overlap in parallel to Roadway line features. Establishment of logical consistency was performed by the respective data collector (agencies) responsible for manually creating and controlling feature topology in either Shapefile or GeoDatabase format. No automated procedures or tests were performed to guarantee desired topology other than visual inspection. IMPORTANT - Trails may overlap in some instances. Since trail systems interconnect and the "master" copy of the Statewide Trails Database is to include trail system data submitted by different data providers, there will be instances where the same section of trail is represented twice where a trail from one system passes through and is considered part of another system. For example, this is common where portions of a regional trail system such as a Connecticut Blue-Blazed Hiking Trail are also part of a system of trails at a state forest. This exception to Lines do not overlap other lines rule allows trail data collectors and providers to map trail systems as complete and discrete units. Ideally, over time, a certain level of coordination and trail data sharing will ensure that these overlapping coincident features have the same geometry (shape).

No restrictions or legal prerequisites for using the data. Trail line feature information was prepared by collecting trail positions in the field using GPS equipment, digitizing trail maps, compiling information onto a planimetric correct base and digitizing, or by copying previously digitized road and trail centerline features. Horizontal accuracy varies depending on the methodology used to map and digitize each trail system. Consequently, as a whole, these data are generally not intended for maps printed at scales greater or more detailed than 1:24,000 scale (1 inch = 2,000 feet). Refer to the Horizontal Accuracy Notes attribute in the Trail line feature and Roadway line feature class for more specific horizontal accuracy assessments when mapping individual trail systems at larger (more accurate) scales. Trail Access point and Trail Interest point feature information was prepared using similar methods, with horizontal accuracy varying accordingly. Although this data set has been used by the State of Connecticut, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, no warranty, expressed or implied, is made by the State of Connecticut, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection as to the accuracy of the data and or related materials. The act of distribution shall not constitute any such warranty, and no responsibility is assumed by the State of Connecticut, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection in the use of these data or related materials. The user assumes the entire risk related to the use of these data. Once the data is distributed to the user, modifications made to the data by the user should be noted in the metadata. The State of Connecticut, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and all other Originators (referenced in the Citation section of this metadata), should be acknowledged as the data source in products derived from the trail data. For example, include the following data source description on a map: Trails - From the Connecticut Statewide Trails layer, compiled and published by CT DEEP and other trail data collecting agencies and organizations. Source map scale varies.

Data format:	in format Shapefile, Feature Class (version ArcGIS)
Network links:	http://www.ct.gov/deep

Data format:

in format Shapefile, Feature Class (version ArcGIS)

Network links:

http://www.ct.gov/deep

The data distributor does not provide custom GIS analysis or mapping services. Data is available in a standard format and may be converted to other formats, projections, coordinate systems, or selected for specific geographic regions by the party receiving the data.

Connecticut Trail

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