BUCKS COUNTY TRAILS. September 10, 2015 Presentation to:

BUCKS COUNTY TRAILS September 10, 2015 Presentation to:

BUCKS COUNTY TRAILS Benefits of Trails Bucks County Trails The Circuit Active Trail Projects Planning Studies Municipal Trails Planning Other Trail Projects Resources

BENEFITS OF TRAILS Recreational benefits including safe walking and biking routes and increased access to for nature study, bird watching, fishing and water-based recreation Environmental benefits such as reducing the need to drive, encouraging the removal/management of invasive plants and improving stormwater management as part of trail development Quality of Life benefits including encouraging physical activity, aids in developing a sense of community centered around usage and volunteerism in maintaining the trail Economic benefits derived from users of trails spending money at local businesses and providing opportunities for job training programs from trail maintenance and stewardship

BUCKS COUNTY TRAILS Current Trails in Bucks County: Limited long-distance trails Fragmented trails network primarily in the form of trails located within municipal, county and state parks

BUCKS COUNTY TRAILS PLANNING HISTORY 1955 Bucks County Parks Board recommends creation of a linear park system along various stream valleys in the County including the Neshaminy Creek and Mill and Black Ditch creeks 2011 County adopts Bucks County Open Space & Greenways Plan identifying 27 greenway corridors throughout the county, designating some of them for possible future trail development 2012 Bucks County Bicycle Master Plan adopted 2013 County applies for funding to begin implementation of these plans

BUCKS COUNTY TRAILS PLANNING HISTORY 2013/2014 Doylestown to New Hope / Route 202 Bike Lane Feasibility Study conducted 2014 Jan County adopts Upper Neshaminy Creek Trail Feasibility Study Aug Dec County brings together an internal team and outside expertise to identify a path forward for moving the trail planning efforts forward County adopts Mill-Queen Anne-Black Ditch Creeks Trail Feasibility Study identifying a proposed multi-use trail alignment along the Mill, Queen Anne and Black Ditch creeks 2015 Bucks County Commissioners indicate their interest in advancing three priority trail projects: Upper Bucks Rail Trail Newtown Rail Trail Upper Neshaminy Creek Trail Phase 1

BUCKS COUNTY TRAILS WHY PLAN FOR TRAILS? Bucks County Open Space & Greenways Plan What types of recreational facilities do we need more of in the County? (Top 5 responses) Percent of responders What should be the top priorities for the county relative to parks, open space and natural resources? (Top 5 responses) 48% 48% 53% 64% 65% 37% 39% 40% 43% 43% Outdoor Ice Skating Water Access Points Community Bike Paths Gardens & Lanes Trails Provide more Bike Lanes and Paths Protect Farmland Develop Regional Trail System Protect Animal & Plant Habitats Protect Water Resources

THE CIRCUIT The Circuit: Proposed 750-mile trail network throughout the region: 300 miles complete 50 miles in progress 400 miles in planning Trails in Bucks County as par t of the Circuit: Neshaminy Creek Doylestown to New Hope bike route Liberty Bell Trail including Upper Bucks Rail Trail) East Coast Greenway Newtown Rail Trail (Recently added)

THE CIRCUIT

ACTIVE TRAIL PROJECTS Upper Bucks Rail Trail Newtown Rail Trail Upper Neshaminy Creek Trail Phase 1 Peace Valley Trail East Coast Greenway

UPPER BUCKS RAIL TRAIL P roject S pecifics 3.1 mile Multi-Use Trail 12 wide crushed stone Extends from Lehigh/Bucks County line south to Veterans Park in Richland Township. Future plans call for extending it into Quaker town Connects into the existing Saucon Rail Trail which will eventually connect to the South Bethlehem Greenway and D&L trail into Easton Richland and Springfield townships have passed suppor ting resolutions

UPPER BUCKS RAIL TRAIL Trail Benefits: Aids in economic development by encouraging visitors from Lehigh Valley to come into Upper Bucks Provides access to Heller town via existing trails, and eventually Bethl ehem and Easton Connects to Veterans Park in Richland Township Par t of Quaker town Area Trails network Trail Challenges: Potential hydraulic / drainage issues near Coopersburg

UPPER BUCKS RAIL TRAIL

UPPER BUCKS RAIL TRAIL Current Status / Next Steps: Commissioners have agreed to fund the design and engineering of the Upper Bucks Rail Trail and anticipate being able to secure funding for the future development of the trail Request for Proposal issued for design & engineering work for the Upper Bucks Rail Trail and recommendation made to the Commissioners relative to recommended engineering firms Springfield and Richland townships are working with SEPTA to negotiate the lease of the right-of-way

NEWTOWN RAIL TRAIL COUNTY LINE ROAD TO NEWTOWN BOROUGH

NEWTOWN RAIL TRAIL COUNTY LINE ROAD TO NEWTOWN BOROUGH Project Specifics 8.4 mile Multi-Use Trail Upper Southampton Township Northampton Township Middletown Township Newtown Township Newtown Borough 2.55 miles 4.50 miles 0.50 miles 0.35 miles 0.50 miles 12 wide crushed stone or asphalt Would connect into the Pennypack Trail and the Neshaminy Creek Trail Estimated cost to design and build: $5.1 million

NEWTOWN RAIL TRAIL UPPER SOUTHAMPTON TOWNSHIP Project Specifics 2.55 mile Multi-Use Trail 12 wide crushed stone Extends from County Line Road to Bristol Road Would connect into the Pennypack Trail Estimated cost to design and build: $506,000

NEWTOWN RAIL TRAIL UPPER SOUTHAMPTON TOWNSHIP Trail Benefits: Projected usage is very high given connection to Pennypack Trail and residential density in the area Provide connections into Tamanend Park and adjacent Klinger Middle School Connects to commercial areas along Second Street Pike Trail Challenges: Known erosion issues Two at-grade state road crossings at County Line Road and Second Street Pike

NEWTOWN RAIL TRAIL

NEWTOWN RAIL TRAIL STATUS BY MUNICIPALITY U p p er S o u t h ampto n To w nship M ay 5 Resolution of S u p p o r t r eceived f ro m Upper S o u t h a m p to n Township J u n e $ 100, 000 in f u n d ing for d esign a n d engineering of Upper S o u t h a m p to n Tow n ship section r eceived via William Penn Fo u n d a t ion G e o r g e S c h o ol / M i d dl etown To w n ship G eorge S c h o o l T h r ee m eet ings h eld to d a te w ith o n g o ing d iscussions r egarding t r a il M iddletow n Tw sp One meet ing h eld a n d generally suppor t ive b u t want to make sure that G eorge S c h o o l is in suppor t N ew town B o ro ug h S ep & Oct Attend a n d p r esented to New town B o ro u g h C o u n c il Wo r k ing to address c o n c erns r egarding liability a n d trail m a intenanc e Dec / J a n 2 016 A n t icipate vo te by N ew tow n B o ro u g h N ew town To w n ship S ep P r esented to New tow n Tow n ship B o a r d of S u p er visors N ov A n t icipated vo te by N ew tow n Tow n ship B o a r d of S u p er visors N o r thampto n To w n sh ip 2 016 I n itiate d iscussions

UPPER NESHAMINY CREEK TRAIL PHASE 1 - DOYLESTOWN CENTRAL PARK TO EDISON-FURLONG VILLAGE / BRIDGE POINT PARK P roject S pecifics 0.5 mile Multi-Use Trail 10 wide asphalt 2 large bridges over the Neshaminy Creek Extends from Central Park to Bri dge Point Park Connects into the existing Doylestown Community Bike & Hike System Estimated cost to design and build: $1.5 million

UPPER NESHAMINY CREEK TRAIL PHASE 1 - DOYLESTOWN CENTRAL PARK TO EDISON-FURLONG VILLAGE / BRIDGE POINT PARK Doylestown Central Park Bridge Point Park

UPPER NESHAMINY CREEK TRAIL PHASE 1 DOYLESTOWN CENTRAL PARK TO EDISON-FURLONG VILLAGE / BRIDGE POINT PARK Trail Benefits: High projected usage given residential density and connections to Central Park, Bridge Point Park, Doylestown Community Bike & Hike System and Route 202 Parkway Trail Right-of-way is 100% owned by Doylestown Township and Bucks County. However, an easement is needed from Bucks County Fish & Game Trail Challenges: Expensive given the need for two bridges over Neshaminy Creek Engineering challenges for trail on island behind Public Safety Training Center

UPPER NESHAMINY CREEK TRAIL PHASE 1 DOYLESTOWN CENTRAL PARK TO EDISON-FURLONG VILLAGE / BRIDGE POINT PARK

UPPER NESHAMINY CREEK TRAIL PHASE 1 DOYLESTOWN CENTRAL PARK TO EDISON-FURLONG VILLAGE / BRIDGE POINT PARK Current Status: Upper Neshaminy Creek Trail is still being pursued but given high price tag associated with the cost of two bridges and the need to acquire an agreement from Bucks County Fish & Game, it is lower on the priority list Next Steps: Secure easement from Bucks County Fish & Game for a portion of the property they lease from Bucks County Continue to seek funding to move forward with this segment of the Upper Neshaminy Creek Trail Explore funding opportunities for additional segments of the Upper Neshaminy Creek Trail

PEACE VALLEY PARK TRAIL

PEACE VALLEY PARK TRAIL Project Specifics Completion of 0.71 missing segment to complete the trail around Lake Galena Repave 2.0 miles of existing trails between Sailors Point on the west shore and Angler s Pier on the east shore Current Status Funding received from Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Request for proposal for design and engineering work issued and proposals currently being evaluated Next Steps County Commissioners select engineering firm and design and engineering work begins

East Coast Greenway EAST COAST GREENWAY

PLANNING STUDIES County Planning Studies Bucks County Open Space and Greenways Plan (2011) Bucks County Bicycle Master Plan (Nov 2012) Upper Neshaminy Creek (Adopted Jun 2014) Mill-Queen Anne-Black Ditch Creeks (Adopted Dec 2014) Lower Neshaminy Creek (Anticipated adoption Dec 2015) Middle Neshaminy Creek (Anticipated adoption Jun 2016) Regional Planning Studies Pennsylvania Highlands Trails Network Liberty Bell Trail Pennridge Area Greenway Plan

PLANNING STUDIES

UPPER NESHAMINY CREEK TRAIL STUDY CHALFONT TO FORKS OF NESHAMINY P roject S pecifics 15.0 mile Multi-Use Trail 10 wide asphalt Extends from Chalfont Borough to Forks of Neshaminy Connects into the existing Doylestown Community Bike & Hi ke System Estimated cost to design and build: $13.4 million

UPPER NESHAMINY CREEK TRAIL STUDY CHALFONT TO FORKS OF NESHAMINY

MILL-QUEEN ANNE-BLACK DITCH CREEKS TRAIL STUDY P roject S pecifics 15.1 mile Multi-Use Trail 10 wide asphalt Extends Veterans Memorial Park in the west to Oxford Valley Park in the north, to Bristol Borough in the south and Levittown Parkway to the east Connects Oxford Valley, Frosty Hollow, Queen Anne, Black Ditch parks and Silver Lake Nature Center Estimated cost to design and build: $13.6 million

MILL-QUEEN ANNE-BLACK DITCH CREEKS TRAIL STUDY

LOWER NESHAMINY CREEK TRAIL

MIDDLE NESHAMINY CREEK TRAIL Forks of Neshaminy / Rushland to Helen Randle Park / Swamp Road

MIDDLE NESHAMINY CREEK TRAIL Helen Randle Park / Swamp Road to Buck Road via Tyler State Park

MIDDLE NESHAMINY CREEK TRAIL Buck Road to Core Creek Park

MUNICIPAL TRAILS PLANNING Municipal Trail Plans Tri-Municipal Master Trail & Greenway Plan Bensalem Township Greenways & Trails Feasibility Study Ongoing Municipal Trail Planning / Implementation Doylestown Bike & Hike Committee Warrington Township Trails Committee Plumstead Township Trails Committee AMC Quakertown Area Trails Committee Newtown Township Trails Committee

OTHER TRAIL PROJECTS Regional Trail Planning Delaware Canal Vision Study County Planning Bucks County Bicycle Map

RESOURCES Upper Neshaminy Creek Trail Feasibility Study http://www.buckscounty.org/do cs/pc/upperneshaminycreektrailfeasibilitystu dy.pdf?sfvrsn=2 Mill-Queen Anne-Black Ditch Creeks Trail Feasibility Study http://www.buckscounty.org/do cs/default -source/pc/mill-queen-anne-blackditch-creeks-trails-feasibility -study.pdf?sfvrsn=0 Lower Neshaminy Creek Trail Feasibility Study Will be posted to Bucks County Planning Commission website shortly Questions: Paul W. Gordon pwgordon@buckscounty.org 215-345-3884