Founded more than 20 years ago, the Flagstaff Urban Trail System (FUTS) has finally hit the 50-mile mark. The trails already cover more than 50 miles and, by the time they are finished, they should stretch across more than 130 miles total.

“[50 miles] is a fairly significant milestone; it means we have accomplished a lot,” said Martin Ince, the FUTS multi-modal transportation planner. “The extensive system connects the whole community.”

According to the City of Flagstaff Citizen Survey 2009, 78 percent of Flagstaff residents have used the FUTS trail system in the past year. Multiple NAU groups and other organizations around Flagstaff use these trails for multiple activities.

Stephanie McIlroy, a freshman merchandising and international affairs major, is on the Trijacks and uses the trails that run through campus for workouts.

“Even if you are not used to trails, these are good for any skill level because they are nicely smoothed, and you do not have to worry about tripping,” McIlroy said.

Another group that uses the trails is the Northern Arizona Trail Runners Association (NATRA). Along with the Flagstaff Biking Association, NATRA helps build the new trails all around the city.

“This summer, our group helped sponsor the 50 miles of FUTS celebration,” said Neil Weintraub, one of the heads of NATRA. “We conducted trail runs each Saturday on different portions of the Flagstaff Urban Trail System. In past years, our focus has been sponsoring the Arizona trail construction days partnering with Flagstaff Biking Organization.”

For the most part, however, FUTS is operated and maintained by the city of Flagstaff and is budgeted through the city’s capital budget. The FUTS group makes a plan for the newest trail, and then the budget gets requested for the next fiscal year. After it gets approved, the project is assigned to a private contractor for construction.

Current projects include completing the Turquoise Drive Trail between Forest Avenue and Switzer Canyon Drive, and half a mile on the Country Club Drive trail, on the Eastside near the Flagstaff mall. There are missing pieces in both trails that are being repaired.

Another project in the works is finishing the Flagstaff Loop Trail that goes around the city like a wheel and will eventually have “spokes” that run into the city. That project will be completed within the next two years.

One of the most recently completed projects that the whole community is proud of is the Crescent Land Bridge. It is 100 feet long and connects the Rio North Trail with the Crescent Trail and keeps them aligned.

“The land between the two trails is private, so the bridge became a good solution,” Ince said.

This bridge will support Trail Runner magazine naming Flagstaff one of the top seven running-trail towns in North America and help to keep Flagstaff a running destination, as named by Runner’s World in 2007. The trails are the pride of Flagstaff.

“Just about everyone in town is within a five-minute walk to the trail system, which they can then easily escape to the myriad of trails in the forest,” Weintraub said. “We are so very lucky to have FUTS.”