WESTERN RESERVE GREENWAY City to tend bike trail in village

A section of the proposed Lordstown Bike Trail will run through Niles.
By SHERRI L. SHAULIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
NILES -- City officials have agreed to maintain a portion of a bike trail to be built through Lordstown.
But, explained city Engineer Mark Hess, Niles won't have to pay for the engineering or construction costs for that section.
The Lordstown Bike Trail will follow a route along state Route 45 from the center of the village down Salt Springs Road, where it will eventually tie into the Western Reserve Greenway Trail, part of which will be constructed by Niles.
When completed, the Western Reserve Greenway Trail is to run for 100 miles along abandoned railroad lines in Mahoning, Columbiana, Trumbull and Ashtabula counties from Lake Erie to the Ohio River. Portions have been opened over the past few years.
One portion -- from about the Fifth Street bridge to the intersection with state Route 46 -- actually falls in the city limits, Hess said.
"It's a pretty good section," he said.
Lordstown officials plan to match local funds to state and federal grants to design and build the village trail, and Niles would maintain it, Hess said.
Agreement
Council unanimously agreed during Wednesday's meeting to enter into an agreement with Lordstown to maintain the village's trail once construction is complete. Lordstown council approved a similar agreement at its meeting Monday.
The pact was needed to allow Lordstown Zoning Administrator Ron Barnhart to proceed with grant applications.
Lordstown's Bike Trail is expected to cost about $1.1 million. Much of the 6.1-mile trail is planned to follow the path of a waterline to be constructed in the village.
Niles' path is expected to run from the Mahoning County line through Weathersfield Township and into downtown Niles. Once in the downtown area, the path would follow city streets to the city limits on the other side of town.
Construction on the Niles path could begin as early as mid-2006, and Lordstown officials hope to begin construction shortly thereafter.
slshaulis@vindy.com