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Mid -Ohio Regional Planning Commission Economic Impact of Trails Study Technical Memorandum 4 (DRAFT) — Key Informant Interviews March 2015 Report Authors: Greg Lindsey & Tracy Nordstrom 1. Introduction The goal of MORPC's Economic Impact of Trails Study is to provide clear, credible evidence of the values of multiuse trails in Central Ohio in a set of easy to read memos, reports, and fact sheets that MORPC can share with trail enthusiasts, residents, business and community leaders, and public officials to inform them of trail -related initiatives. The project includes several related research activities, including trail counts, intercept and online surveys of trail users, key informant interviews, analyses of property values, and analyses of project costs. Task 3 of the Study involves preparation of technical memoranda to document the major research activities. The final report and the fact sheets will draw on data and findings in the technical memoranda. Technical Memorandum 4 (TM4) summarizes results of the key informant interviews. The interviews of key informants were designed to complement the trail intercept and online surveys and obtain information about trails from stakeholders who represent key constituencies in Central Ohio. The interviews focused on the informants' perceptions of trails, the values they provide to communities in the region, and any possible concerns about trails. 2. Approach and Methods The Interview Guide The key informant interview guide was designed in collaboration with MORPC and the Central Ohio Greenways Steering Committee. The research team discussed the purpose and objectives of the interviews with Committee members and MORPC staff, drafted a set of interview questions, shared the draft guide, and the revised the guide in response to suggestions and comments from MORPC and the Committee. The interview guide was designed to engage individuals in a free flowing conversation about the values of trails in the region. The guide included 12 questions in open-ended format that allowed informants to speak at length about particular questions (see Appendix 1). The first three questions were factual and asked about the informant's position and work relative to trails, their familiarity with and personal use of trails, and whether their organizations encourage employees to use trails and other types of sustainable transportation. The reason for beginning the interviews with factual questions is to help informants focus on 40