Posted in reply to the post by Barry:
Dear Multiuse Trail Supporters,
The trails proposal before the council went well. One of the most important things that happened is that the Council heard loud and clear how important these trails are to the community. They listened. They got it. They did not take the big steps that we had hoped for, yet they did take positive steps to move forward.
For those of you who came and especially if you spoke for the cause, thank you. This made a difference. The place was packed with advocates.
The meeting was also attended by many who did not want a trail on their street or Burbank Farm. They were organized and spoke with passion and wanted the trail somewhere else. However, a telling moment was when an individual speaker asked the crowd "who thinks we need these multi-use trails,"
every hand in the room went up. It is not if we should have the trails, but where.
A point that came across strongly by trail advocates, and was probably good for the City staff to hear was that lines painted along the edge of the highways are no substitute for an off road trail. Many accomplished riders made statements like, "I will not risk my daughters life there….” and several stated they had been hit by a car riding at the edge of busy roads.
Actually what the Council did:
1) Require Planning Department to return with a public process for determining a E-W and a N-S (Class I trail priority) trail extending from the Joe Rodota Trail near Hopmonk, and,
2) determine the cost of a professionally managed feasibility study for inclusion in the 2015-16 budget in April.
It did not put the proposed trails into the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan, but this is progress.
A final take away — we need to involve all the affected community in the process and solution. People need to be informed and invited to participate in creating an alignment that works for them. Also, we need to keep multi use trails in front of the Council, for it really is public support that will make it happen.
With gratitude,
Lynn