IN-MI Trail completion by 2018?

 Advocacy, Facilities, Infrastructure, News  No Responses »
Jan 182013
 

Indiana (blue) and Michigan (red) proposals

The Indiana-Michigan River Valley Trail is a 34 mile multi-use trail extending from Niles, MI to Mishawaka, IN (and someday beyond). As with all bicycle/pedestrian transportation projects, it is a favorite project of nearly all regional residents, but a favorite scapegoat of many transportation skeptics: as such it needs a big cash infusion to reach fruition.

This project has been recently blessed by a possible infusion of the much needed cash. The beneficiary of this cash is Niles Township: from the City of Niles, to the Indiana/Michigan State Line the township recently announced nearly $300,000 of funding.

  • $5,000             The Plym Foundation has committed $5,000
  • $286,000         Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) via the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (MNRTF). This is pending legislative approval and appropriation.

Mr. Harry Thibault, Niles Township Park Commission Chairman, said he’s already received local foundation and private commitments totaling around $41,000. Thibault, and the park commission, hope to raise another $100,000 to cover the $141,000 committed by the township toward the project. Thibault also emphasized that “after we raise funds for this portion, we will need up to $178,000 for Phase II to connect with the Niles city trail and finish the Michigan portion of the IN-MI River Valley Trail.” Continue reading »

Bike Michiana Coalition funds Bike/Ped Trails

 Advocacy, Facilities, Infrastructure, News  1 Response »
Apr 232012
 

The St. Joseph County Parks Foundation and the Friends of the Pumpkinvine have each received $1,000 from the BMC to support development of their trails.

The Parks Foundation will use the funds for development of the IN-MI Trail, to help fill in the gap between Niles, Mich. and Roseland, Ind. The Park’s segment of this trail, the LaSalle Trail, has not yet started construction, and the BMC donation will be added to their trust fund earmarked for the trail.

The Pumpkinvine Nature Trail meanders between Goshen, Middlebury and Shipshewana in Elkhart County: they will use the funds to help close gaps in the trail. Currently under construction is a 1.2 mile section near Middlebury.

Continue reading »

Mishawaka Mayoral Election news

 education, News  6 Responses »
Oct 172011
 

The Bike Michiana Coalition (BMC) sent an online  questionnaire to the candidates for mayor in Mishawaka.  The questionnaire consisted of nine questions.
Dave Wood responded, while Craig Fry did not.  Listed below are the questions and answers to
the questionnaire from Wood. Since Fry did not respond, the BMC has resorted to
a South Bend Tribune report and on archived web site posts to shed light on Fry’s
stance on bicycling. Continue reading »

South Bend seeks railway abandonment

 Infrastructure, News  1 Response »
Sep 152011
 

[googlemaps http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=212168427829578000282.000462afa9f88cdf03edc&hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=41.690912,-86.258921&spn=0.035304,0.035258&t=h&vpsrc=6&output=embed&w=425&h=350]

Two interconnecting branch lines of the Norfolk Southern Railway Co. running from South Bend’s west side to the Saint Mary’s College campus would be abandoned if a petition filed by the City of South Bend and other partners is approved.

Attorneys representing the City of South Bend, the Brothers of Holy Cross Inc., Holy Cross Village at Notre Dame and the Sisters of the Holy Cross Inc. filed the petition Tuesday with the federal Surface Transportation Board. The petition seeks to re-open the board’s 2008 ruling that there wasn’t a sufficient burden of proof for Norfolk Southern to abandon the 3.7 miles of rail lines, even though the railway company has indicated it will not sell the lines to any purchaser.

The above map shows 4 miles of unused railway. The city it trying to get all but 0.3 miles declared ‘abandoned’.
Continue reading »

Bike/Ped infrastructure upgrades in St. Joseph County, IN

 Facilities, Infrastructure, News  No Responses »
Jan 272011
 

In a recent post, I commented on a new Marshall County Bike/Ped path in Plymouth. Today I am concentrating on St. Joe County. Cyclists look at the huge need for friendlier places for biking and walking, and often get discouraged. But progress is being made.  Listed below are nine improvements in the county that have been recently completed, or are on the drawing board for the near future.

Mishawaka Riverwalk

Some would say the Mishawaka Riverwalk is the most impressive project in the county. It would be hard to make a case against that claim. The path that hugs the St. Joseph River complements the overhaul from a toxic industrial area in city center to an urban area that is as good as any around. It also is a part of the IN-MI Trail. Mainly along the north bank of the river, the trail extends from the Mishawaka City Limits on the west (Logan St.), almost to Cedar St. on the east, a distance of over 1.3 miles. Continue reading »

 Older Entries