Upper
Uwchlan Township Releases Trail Plan: "SON
KOTOWSKI , Chester County Daily Local 07/29/2004
UPPER UWCHLAN -- Preliminary cost estimates for a trail network in the township
total $6.2 million.
Ray Ott, of Ray Ott &
Associates, a planning and landscape architecture firm, said that figure is only
a first estimate and is subject to change. He said Tuesday that they are still
early in the planning process, and trail committee members need to decide what
parts of the trail system are most important.
'We have to start somewhere,' said committee Chairman Ben Lagarde.
'We want to develop the trail system to represent all residents. We?ll work from here to list priorities and come up with a
realistic end result.'
The cost estimate draft divides the total cost into four categories: multi-use
trails, pedestrian side paths, bicycle lanes on existing roadways and bicycle
signed routes. Multi-use trails are the largest expense at $2,677,333. Ott said he still has to figure out estimates for hiking
and equestrian trails.
Multi-use trails are planned for Park Road and Pottstown Pike. Instead of
creating a separate multi-use trail for the Village of Eagle, a village
streetscape would be constructed. The multi-use trails would be asphalt and
eight feet wide with four-foot shoulders. Ott
estimates that each square yard of trail would cost $20.
Pedestrian side paths, which are six feet wide, will cost about the same. Side
paths are planned for Byers, Dorland Mills, Fellowship, Font, Greenridge, Krauser, Little
Conestoga, Milford and Moore roads, Pennsylvania Drive, Senn,
Styer and East and West Township Line roads.
The cost of installing two, lined, four-foot bicycle lanes and signs on East
Township Line, Font, Greenridge, Little Conestoga and
Moore roads is estimated to cost $94,116. Installing signs on existing bike
routes will cost about $99,486.Committee member Walt Styer
said one of his priorities is looping the trail through Font, Milford and Krauser roads. Wayne Martin, another committee member, said
his main priority is making sure the trails are safe.
For months, the Upper Uwchlan Trail Committee has
been discussing where trails should lead, what features they should have and
what areas are conducive to multi-use trails, which allow both biking and
walking. The committee has named St. Matthew’s Park, Marsh Creek State
Park, Eagleview Town Center, Hickory Park, Shamona Creek Elementary School, Eagle Village, Pickering
Valley Elementary School, Fellowship Field and Hankin
Library as destination points.