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Bike trail study under way

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By Samantha Sommer, Staff Writer Updated 10:52 AM Tuesday, July 27, 2010

SPRINGFIELD — A dedicated bike trail through the south side is likely still a few years off, but the city has taken a first step on that path.

City commissioners approved last week a more than $110,000 contract with LJB Inc. to study alternative paths for the Little Miami Scenic Trail from Interstate 70 to Fair Street.

The trail there goes onto South Yellow Springs Street, then weaves on and off neighborhood streets until it’s close to downtown, where a dedicated trail picks back up.

“There’s that missing leg,” City Engineer Leo Shanayda said.

A grant from the Clark County-Springfield Transportation Coordinating Committee will pay for the study.

It will look at alternative routes, and when one is selected, it will identify the land needed and prepare construction plans.

The route study will take about six months, Shanayda said, and then he expects to hold an open house to get public input on the proposed alternatives.

A former railroad bed goes through there, but it has some complications, including a drainage ditch and private owners.

Even after an alignment is determined, it will take time to find funding and purchase land, National Trail Parks and Recreation District CEO Tim Smith said.

But the study is an important first step that’s also often necessary for grant funding.

“You’ve got to start somewhere and keep moving forward,” Smith said.

Parker Buckley, a founding member of the Greater Springfield Friends of the Trail, agreed and said the volunteer group is pleased with the study.

The group has worked with the city and National Trail on cleaning up the paths and erecting signs along them.

Sharing the road with traffic on Yellow Springs Street can make it difficult for families with children to use the trail there, he said.

“All the local cyclists would love to see that trail put back as close as possible to the original rail bed,” he said.

Creating a contiguous trail is a high priority for the users, Smith said.

“It’s an important link,” he said.

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I am delighted that the city commissioners have approved this study to reroute the bike path through the south side of the city. I remember reading a review in a national magazine that criticized the current bike path saying that it did not seem like a safe route and was strewn with much broken glass. Riding the bike trails is one of my favorite outdoor activities.

Marshall
1:41 AM, 7/28/2010

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I agree with Dave.I used the counties GIS maps and in ten minutes found a rout. It did not take six months for me! I am willing to sell my plan to the city for the rock bottom price of $55,000. That is a savings of 50%! However, my plan does not include a study of the impact that the rout will have on the winos and wild dogs.

Gimme a break

wino
8:50 PM, 7/27/2010

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The firm selected will get ideas from local cyclist, especially Friends of the Trails group. Plus there will be multiple public hearings, show up and comment. The money is federal tax dollars, and pretty sure its the CMAQ fund, Congestion Mitigation Air Quality program)They tell you what to spend it on. If our communities don't apply for it, someone else will. If you disagree contact the feds.

try this
4:12 PM, 7/27/2010

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I use the bike path in Greene County a lot, and so do a lot of other people. It is perhaps one of the best uses of county resources, and I hope they pursue this as quicly as possible.

Walker
2:41 PM, 7/27/2010

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I guess they figure that people who actually use the trails on a regular basis aren't smart enough to come up with a plan of action to improve it in the best interest of the city and bikers??

EXplorer
1:56 PM, 7/27/2010

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