Governor’s Goals for Statewide Trails and Pathways Program Are F*cking Awesome!
As a parent of children who have to venture out onto the shoulders of busy roads to get anywhere, this makes my heart flutter in my chest.
The Governor’s goals for the proposed Statewide Trails and Pathways program are to:
o Build a world class interconnected pathway network
o Support creation of local jobs
o Link communities internally to support local sustainable economies, and externally to grow connections between neighborhoods, towns and cities
o Develop sustainable practices in the creation of the network, such as supporting native landscaping and natural habitats
o Support health communities by providing affordable, active transportation choices
o Re-establish Delaware in the Top Ten of Bicycle Friendly states (we’re at #17 right now)
o And, develop strategies for the ongoing maintenance and upgrades of existing facilities.DelDOT and DNREC have identified seventeen (17) proposed projects for discussion and possible construction over the next 2-3 years, covered by an initial investment of $7 million earmarked for trails in the 2012 Bond Bill. This funding will maximize the state’s ability to leverage federal and private dollars for these projects.
One simple change would be to require more pedestrian connections in new subdivisions. In other words, on long streets, or at the end of a long cul-de-sac, there would have to be a pedestrian connector to the next street, instead of an unbroken barrier of private property.
Existing communities should be examined to see where this can be done using existing easements and right-of-ways.
If done right, you could hike or bike across the county solely on suburban streets. We’d get a lot of pathway for the money. But the Greenways are cool too.
New construction should provide exterior sidewalks and paths along right of ways. That should be baked into every proposed development plan, residential or commercial.
Yes, and not just the length of the development project… All the way to the next major intersection.
But what happen to the investment in public schools aka career and college pathways? He cut the state budget to education every year since being in office. O Damn you’re talking another type of pathway. LOL 🙂
Wow. Those all seem incredibly bland and non-exciting to me. It’s all going to be basically toothless until/unless the state takes a much stronger hand in land-use planning. As long as the counties are in charge, all this is going to be just talk. Jack’s already backed away from the review system that Minner put in place.
Yes, the trails will be great. But we all knew that was coming since the summer when the GA set aside the cash. And it costs so much to acquire land these days that it’s still not going to have an impact in most peoples’ neighborhoods.
nipples.
Penis glans. What?
I’m pretty excited about the rail trail from Georgetown to Cape Henlopen, and the Junction and Breakwater Trail in Lewes and Rehoboth Beach. These projects have already been designed, studies completed, and properties acquired, in most cases, for several years, and at a huge investment. WTF are they waiting for? Perhaps, now that it’s ‘for the kids’, maybe Markell can get off his ass and finally complete something.
Mis – Junction & Breakwater is already a great trail to run on (I use it for my Ironman and marathon training). An additional trail will be awesome.
Truth! I sure like to see them get it finished, especially Georgetown to Cape/Lewes. I live less than a mile off that one. Route 9 to the beach, which I do often, can be a challenge on a bike in the summer.
The Georgetown-Lewes trail is going to face incredible opposition from people whose back yards it abuts. Property still has to be acquired – the rail line is still in use, so the trail would have to run beside it. Plus there’s going to have to be property purchased for access points along the length of the trail. It’s going to be a huge undertaking.
The G-town Lewes route will also facilitate the migration of vagrants to the new CBS homeless shelter on route 9. Awesome!
Meatball, there is no homeless shelter on Route 9, unless you’re opening the doors to your home. Guess you need to clear out the chickens and sheep from your spare bedroom.
… aaaaand you’re talking about the Jusst Sooup Ranch, which was built thanks to an *ABC* show. Not CBS.
Just you wait bro. CBS, ABC what’s the diff.
After the county waives the zoning rules again for Jusst Sooup, and allows them to serve and house the homeless on premisses, they can use the rail to import them from the population centers into the countryside.
win/win
I visited a Rail to Trail over near Annapolis a few years back. There was the same great concern among the people living along the trail, so some of them built fences. Now the corksuckers are selling advertising space on those fences.
Another win/win
Mis – I don’t think the County Council would allow a homeless shelter to be operated from the property and I doubt that EMHE or Schell would go for it, either. My guess is that Schell Brothers is trustee for the fund that was set up to help pay for expenses (taxes, etc.) on the Jusst Sooup Ranch and would veto a homeless shelter.
http://www.delmarvanow.com/article/20111005/NEWS01/110050370/Concerns-impede-Jusst-Sooup”
On Aug. 30, the day of the show’s “reveal,” Schell filed an application on Dunning’s behalf for a special-use exception to allow serving food at the site. Dunning has said she hopes to drive people in need to the complex.”
The article quotes the Rev. dunning that she wishes to serve (on site) 50 to 70 people on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and holidays.
Decision postponed until November. It might appear to be a grebe, but most folks would just call it a duck.
“Mis – I don’t think the County Council would allow a homeless shelter to be operated from the property and I doubt that EMHE or Schell would go for it, either. My guess is that Schell Brothers is trustee for the fund that was set up to help pay for expenses (taxes, etc.) on the Jusst Sooup Ranch and would veto a homeless shelter.”
Schell is likely trustee to the endowment established to pay the bills, but they also petitioned the county for an exception to allow Juust Sooup to serve on premises, so I’m less than confidant they’re looking out for the best interest of the community. I believe the hearing has been deferred to Nov. 7. The shelter is in the rumor stage, but I live here in Cool Spring, so I’m interested in how this turns out.
well the new trail will run right past my back yard…and I am LOVING the idea
as for potential vagrants – not an issue with for me…one BIG mean dog and one big mean gun. It IS Sussex county.
the only thing I may NOT like is the fact that with a trail RIGHT THERE, I will not have an excuse for not jogging more…
SIGH>>>>>
I’ll run with you, Aoine.
Thanks MJ, I think you could run me into the ground…