Coal Line Trail

TOPIC: Coal Line Trail 
7/13/17 Meeting at the Near Northwest Neighborhood Center 5:00 pm
Council Persons Present: Tim Scott, Jo Broden and Regina Williams-Preston
* Project will be 80% Federal Funding - No mention was made how other 20% will be funded Estimated cost is $3.5M
* The Railway used for taking coal to Notre Dame was abandoned in 2012
* The rail bridge will be rehabilitated to be 14' wide with fencing on either side
* Plans are currently 50-60% complete
* Official Public Hearing will be in September and people can issue an official response
* Construction on Phase 1 is slated for 2020, Phase 2 in 2021
* There will be land acquisition that will require purchasing land from homeowners along the back of their properties
* The Trail will begin on Lincolnway and end up going along Angela to Michigan Street and connect with the East Race
* On Portage there will be a split Trail
* There will be a speed bump installed on Woodward Avenue to slow traffic
* Phase 1 - Lincolnway to Vassar to Portage to Woodward to Angela
* Phase 2 - Rail Bridge to cross the Brothers of Notre Dame along Angela to Michigan Street
* There will be Nodes that include pavillions and bike racks. One of the Nodes will tie into Riverside Trail.
* A bike repair station is also possible
* Lights along the Trail are suppose to be "Dark Sky" non-blue LED lights
* Trees will be taked out in the heavily wooded area on either side
* No mow grass and native plantings will be used per Daniel Liggett
* Currently they think asphalt will be the best material for it.
Suggestions:
* Use Permeable Concrete which will last longer, solve needed water drainage, let the land breathe, less likely to buckle with tree roots, asphalt has a short life and we already can't keep up with the asphalt roads we have
* Position the pavillions so the are optimally positioned for Solar panels
* Solar could power WiFi, charging stations, lights under the roof, security cameras, dedicated security phone
* Signage along the trail could house security cameras and WiFi panic buttons every so many feet
* Visit other Trails like the Pumpkin Vine Trail in Goshen which has been operating for decades to see what worked and didn't work. They used crushed stone for their trail.
* Carefully evaluate the nocternal wildlife in that area since it is heavily wooded and put least amount of lighting possible in it
* Carefully evaluate any "Heritage Trees" and work around them. Notre Dame area has some hundred+ year old trees and has a tree location app - tie in with their arborist and tree marking and education program
* Put in more features that are ADA friendly like picnic tables that can accomodate wheel chairs, etc.
* Put in flower planters like those downtown
* Evaluate parking for those that drive there first
* For input contact Matthew Moyers at Parks 574-235-7499
* For more information see
www. CoalLineTrail .com #BikeTrail #CoalLineTrail  #MichianaObserver