I think the bicycle board should be involved as it has to do with bikes as well as other users. I also feel a whole year is too long and should be in short sections.
Alice
On May 28, 2009 12:58pm, Frank Gmeindl <fgmeindl@verizon.net> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Bicycle Board,
>
>
>
>
>
> What, if anything, does the Bicycle Board want to do about this?
>
> Closing the rail-trail between Deckers Creek and the Star City bridge
>
> for a year to install a second sewer line.
>
>
>
>
>
> Frank
>
>
> Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of
>
> vehicles
>
>
>
>
>
> -------- Original Message --------
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Subject:
>
> RE: rail trail closed for a year?
>
>
>
>
>
> Date:
>
> Thu, 28 May 2009 10:42:47 -0400
>
>
>
>
>
> From:
>
> Christiaan Abildso edu>
>
>
>
>
>
> To:
>
> Don Spencer
>
> ,wileya120@gmail.com>, 'Robert
>
> Anderson' , 'Bill Reger-Nash'
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> CC:
>
> Mark Wise , Daniel Boroff
>
> , ,Frank
>
> Gmeindl , Jon Weems
>
>
>
>
>
> References:
>
> newgwia.hsc.wvu.edu>
>
> D602B22211244ACE9DC5DB24C73F01B8@donhome>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Thank you for the update, Don. I look forward to discussion of this matter, hopefully with BOPARC, MUB, and Arboretum representatives at the next Pedestrian Safety Board meeting, Monday June 8 4-5:30 at the Public Safety Building. I think the Board should get accurate project information before making any public comment.
>
>
>
> Have fun. Be active.
>
> Christiaan
>
>
>
> >>> "Don Spencer" 5/28/2009 10:30 AM >>>
>
> Hi, All - Just to bring you up to date on this issue a bit...City Council is
>
> requesting that there be a community meeting on this issue sometime during
>
> the month of June. It will be important that Christiaan's views and the
>
> views of others on how the construction plan should be formulated can be
>
> expressed and perhaps discussed. I suspect that the date for the meeting
>
> will be announced on by June 2 at the Council meeting.
>
>
>
> Also, MUB announced that coordination of some concerns about the trail will
>
> be handled by BOPARC. It is hoped that BOPARC will put together a meeting to
>
> discuss trail construction which will include the MRTC, the WVU Arboretum,
>
> as well as the Pedestrian Safety Board and perhaps the Bicycle Board as
>
> well.
>
>
>
> Don
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
>
> From: Robert Anderson [mailto:randerson@hsc.wvu.edu]
>
> Sent: Tuesday, May 26, 2009 7:52 AM
>
> To: wileya120@gmail.com; Bill Reger-Nash; Christiaan Abildso
>
> Cc: dspencer36@comcast.net; ella@montrails.org
>
> Subject: Re: rail trail closed for a year?
>
>
>
> I am in Chas today and tomorrow so I will miss tonight as well. Christiaan
>
> has a great point, namely that shutting down the entire length of trail for
>
> a year is not acceptable. Instead, one section at a time. Just like is done
>
> when a road has to be repaired or expanded. Bob
>
>
>
> Robert H. Anderson
>
> Deputy Director
>
> Prevention Research Center
>
> PO Box 9190
>
> 3820 HSC South
>
> West Virginia University
>
> Morgantown, WV 26506
>
>
>
> 304-293-1828
>
> 304-293-8624 (fax)
>
> 304-376-5299 (cell)
>
> >>> "Christiaan Abildso" edu> 05/25/09 10:36 PM
>
> >>>
>
> Sorry all, have an afternoon meeting in Charleston tomorrow so I probably
>
> won't be back in time.
>
>
>
> I do not have a formal letter, but I suggest we ask MUB to approach the
>
> trail improvements as if they are working on a road...working one section at
>
> a time and offering detours. For example, work on the following segments
>
> with detours:
>
> 1) Decker's Creek to Stansbury with a detour out to Beechurst and back on
>
> behind Stansbury
>
> 2) Stansbury to 8th St...again detour out onto Beechurst
>
> 3) 8th St to Arb service entrance...detour to service road along river? Bill
>
> suggested this may be a possibility with funds for crushed stone???
>
> 4) Arb service road to Star City sewage treatment plant...again, service
>
> road usable?
>
>
>
> Nothing formal yet, but that's my initial thought for discussion of
>
> feasibility. Let's treat the trail as if it's a road...not revolutionary,
>
> but beneficial for the community.
>
>
>
> I'm including Ella. I'm sure she's interested/better informed than we are.
>
> Christiaan
>
>
>
> >>> Angela Wiley 5/25/2009 9:53 PM >>>
>
> I know Don will obviously be there tomorrow; but I think I am free -- so I
>
> will try and attend in order to represent us.
>
>
>
> Christiaan -- if you typed something up to send by now, could you forward it
>
> to me, so I have consistent talking points? Or maybe I'll see you there!
>
>
>
> Let me know.
>
>
>
> On Mon, May 25, 2009 at 4:07 PM, Bill Reger-Nash wrote:
>
>
>
> > Don,
>
> >
>
> > As always, I appreciate your input. Thank you.
>
> >
>
> > I appreciate that this is an important and major project for the
>
> community,
>
> > but there is a service road (between the trail and the river) that might
>
> be
>
> > put into service during the rail trail down time.
>
> >
>
> > Bill
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > WV Walks - 30 minutes or more daily
>
> > Feel the power of half an hour!
>
> >
>
> > Bill Reger-Nash, Ed.D
>
> > Professor of Community Medicine
>
> > West Virginia University School of Medicine
>
> > Morgantown WV 26506-9190
>
> > Phone: 304/293-0763
>
> > Fax: 304/293-6685
>
> >
>
> > Dept. web page: http://www.hsc.wvu.edu/som/cmed
>
> > BRN's web page: http://www.hsc.wvu.edu/som/cmed/wreger/
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > >>> "Don Spencer" 5/25/2009 12:35 AM >>>
>
> > Bill - The MUB planning will be discussed at City council on Tuesday, May
>
> > 26. The information that I have received on the trail closing thus far is
>
> > even more disturbing than what Jon has reported. I am sure that there will
>
> > be some negotiation in the planning which will result from the City
>
> Council
>
> > Review. This is a major project for the community.
>
> >
>
> > Don
>
> >
>
> > -----Original Message-----
>
> > From: Bill Reger-Nash [mailto:wreger@hsc.wvu.edu]
>
> > Sent: Friday, May 22, 2009 10:25 AM
>
> > To: dspencer36@comcast.net; Angela Wiley; Robert Anderson; Christiaan
>
> > Abildso
>
> > Subject: Re: Fwd: railtrail closed for a year?
>
> >
>
> > Christiaan et al,
>
> >
>
> > I suggest we invite MUB and Boparc to our June meet to discuss this issue.
>
> > They are scheduled to begin on Jan 1, 2010 and finish by Dec 31, 2010.
>
> >
>
> > There is a service road between the rail trail and the river. Perhaps that
>
> > could be covered roughly with fine gravel.
>
> >
>
> > Bill
>
> >
>
> > WV Walks - 30 minutes or more daily
>
> > Feel the power of half an hour!
>
> >
>
> > Bill Reger-Nash, Ed.D
>
> > Professor of Community Medicine
>
> > West Virginia University School of Medicine
>
> > Morgantown WV 26506-9190
>
> > Phone: 304/293-0763
>
> > Fax: 304/293-6685
>
> >
>
> > Dept. web page: http://www.hsc.wvu.edu/som/cmed
>
> > BRN's web page: http://www.hsc.wvu.edu/som/cmed/wreger/
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > >>> "Christiaan Abildso" edu> 5/22/2009 10:13
>
> > AM >>>
>
> > All -
>
> > I'm going to craft a response that I hope will stimulate a discussion with
>
> > us, the Bike Board, MUB & the Arb.
>
> >
>
> > Events that will be affected: Moutaineer Triathlon, Sprint Splash & Spin
>
> > Triathlon, Twilight 5-miler...they all use that section of the trail.
>
> >
>
> > >>> "Robert Anderson" 5/22/2009 9:08 AM >>>
>
> > Very bad. For some people near one end or the other they can manage, if
>
> not
>
> > as well as they like. But for many, many others, this ruins things for
>
> > them.
>
> > What is the position of the rail trail people. Does MUB have the legal
>
> > authority to do this without getting anyone's OK?
>
> >
>
> > >>> Bill Reger-Nash 5/21/2009 4:03 PM >>>
>
> > The following message comes from Jon Weems of the WVU Arboretum. It
>
> > appears
>
> > to me that pedestrian advocates should express displeasure for this
>
> > proposed
>
> > lack of accommodation. If they were to close a street down for a year, ...
>
> > well, it just would never happen.
>
> >
>
> > Bill
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > >Subject: Arboretum sewer line
>
> > >Date: Thu, 21 May 2009 10:19:52 -0400
>
> > >From: "Jonathan Weems"
>
> > >
>
> > >I met with three MUB engineers this Monday and learned more about
>
> > >the new sewer line going through the Arboretum. It will be a 36 inch
>
> > >diameter pressure line, installed along the ditch line on the uphill
>
> > >side of the rail-trail. It will supplement but not replace the old
>
> > >gravity line along the downhill side of the rail-trail.
>
> > >
>
> > >This is to be built with stimulus money during the calendar year
>
> > >2010. The rail-trail will be closed from Decker's Creek to the
>
> > >sewage treatment plant by the Star City bridge for the year. After
>
> > >the sewer line is complete MUB will repave the rail-trail, widening
>
> > >it to 12 feet where possible and installing some paved turnouts on
>
> > >the downhill side of the rail-trail. The turnouts will be places
>
> > >where folks can get out of the flow (sorry, accidental bad pun) if
>
> > >they want to stop for a while.
>
> > >
>
> > >This new line will be well within the old railroad right-of-way and
>
> > >also within the MEA power line right-of-way. It will be within the
>
> > >area the railroad used to brush-hog and spray with herbicides. Lots
>
> > >of saplings, a few trees up to 6 inches in diameter, and no larger
>
> > >trees will need to be removed.
>
> > >
>
> > >I told the engineers I didn't know of any current research projects
>
> > >that would be disturbed by the work planned. They said they thought
>
> > >they would be able to keep the three Arboretum trail crossings (of
>
> > >the rail-trail) open during construction. We all identified the flat
>
> > >place below the old landslide as an obvious spot for a turnout. I
>
> > >also suggested one near the bottom of the Service Road where the
>
> > >bike rack is located. Some turnouts outside the Arboretum will be
>
> > >landscaped, but evidently not within the Arboretum. I said we
>
> > >wouldn't want exotic plants used in any event.
>
> > >
>
> > >Overall, I see this sewer line construction as a major disruption
>
> > >for rail-trail users but less of a disruption for Arboretum
>
> > >visitors. If we get a turnout with benches and a bike rack at the
>
> > >bottom of the Service Road I think we should install an interpretive
>
> > >sign inviting rail-trailers to explore Arboretum trails on foot.
>
> > >
>
> > >They agreed we should have an on-site meeting later this year, once
>
> > >detailed specs have been developed and locations staked out.
>
> > >
>
> > >This is a rush job, the time line driven by the stimulus money. If
>
> > >we have major concerns or suggestions it would be good to
>
> > >communicate them early on.
>
> > >
>
> > >Thank you,
>
> > >
>
> > >
>
> > >
>
> > >Jon Weems
>
> > >
>
> > >Arboretum Specialist
>
> > >WVU Department of Biology
>
> > >Morgantown, WV 26506-6057
>
> > >
>
> > >304-293-5201 ext. 31547
>
> > >
>
> > >jweems@wvu.edu
>
> >
>
> >
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>