|
JohnCo reps want trail to WB
by Rick DeClue · News · September 11, 2014
Johnson County plans to construct trails from Iowa City to West Branch, county supervisors announced last week, though it could still be years away.
And, they told the West Branch City Council, they plan to conduct major road improvements to Herbert Hoover Highway that include paved shoulders.
The road project will stretch from where HHH intersects with Interstate 80 east toward the Cedar-Johnson Road, which is right before HHH reaches West Branch High School.
The improvements would complement the city’s plans for West Main Street near the West Branch High School and The Meadows subdivision.
The city is focused on possible turn lanes, pedestrian crossings, changes to school entrances and improvement of the West Main/Johnson-Cedar intersection. A traffic study was recently completed to serve as the basis for the city’s plans.
The preferred route for the walking/biking trail will likely be along Lower West Branch Road, south of I-80, perhaps extending east to South Baker Ave, then north over West Branch’s I-80 overpass.
The supervisors – Terrence Neuzil, Rod Sullivan, John Etheredge, Janelle Retting and Pat Harney – were joined by State Senator Bob Dvorsky in a joint working session with the West Branch City Council on Sept. 2.
The road project had appeared on the county’s five-year plan, but was bumped to a “future projects” list when a bridge project between North Liberty and Solon turned into a $10 million project.
Rettig said the county prefers separated trails, generally 8 to 10 feet wide, as opposed to trails that are part of a road surface. The Lower West Branch approach may be the best of several possible routes for separated trails, she said.
Her enthusiasm for this trail project stems from the fact that she often rides to West Branch along the edge of HHH, and she said that generally means an early morning ride with less traffic.
Neuzil said the road project could be bumped up in the county’s priorities if they could emphasize the safety issues on HHH due to accident history and lack of shoulders. Funding for safety concerns may be available outside the general funding for road improvements.
He also said trail projects typically take a few years longer to fund than road projects.
Dvorsky told the city council about a coalition of trail efforts in Johnson, Linn and Blackhawk counties that does carry some weight with the state. Adding Scott County gives the coalition four major urban counties, he said, and the goal is to make Eastern Iowa a “destination” for trail activities for economic development.
Bradley Freidhof, Conservation Program Manager for the Johnson County Conservation Board, is formally taking charge of trails in Johnson County after 12 years of working with “a whole bunch of people dedicated to trails,” he said.
Dvorsky, Friedhof and Rettig said West Branch is unique as the home to the Hoover Complex, though they all referred to the Pink Pony ice cream parlor as the favorite local destination for bikers.
The supervisors also asked the council a few questions about the proposed recreation center in Pedersen Valley and congratulated the city on the opening of the new dog park.
Mayor Mark Worrell said the city is doing its part, and is willing to work with the county. He cited the city’s goals for trail construction in its long-range plan and noted the space available for 10-foot pedestrian/bike crossings on the rebuilt I-80 overpass.
Pete Swisher, National Park Service Superintendent, said they have a proposal under consideration for a trail extending north on Parkside. “This depends on budget considerations, of course,” he said.
City administrator Matt Muckler also announced the city’s Rural Education Achievement Program Grant request for $75,000 to construct a bridge between the West Branch Village mobile home park and the Hoover Trail looks poised for approval, with final word due in early October.
Along with responsibilities including water trails, equestrian trails and snowmobile trails, Freidhof said, “for walking and biking, we’re working at two levels.”
The America Discovery Trail is a national effort extending from Delaware to California, with a split Northern Midwest and Southern Midwest center.
Freidhof said his dad participated in the original ride over 20 years ago that led to a plan that minimizes trails sharing highway stretches.
Iowa is working to put its pieces of the ADT in place from Davenport – including the Hoover Nature Trail and the Cedar Valley Nature Trail – to Council Bluffs.
In addition, Friedhauf said, the county is looking to connect communities and create loops off the major trails to create the greater trail destination that Dvorsky mentioned. Connections from Iowa City to Cedar Falls, and many communities in between, are the goal.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
