Approval appears likely for route for bike trail
If the route is approved, engineering for the bike path could begin in December.
By SHERRI L. SHAULIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
LORDSTOWN -- Village officials could know as soon as the end of the month whether they have a bike trail route that will work.
Ron Barnhart, planning and zoning administrator for the village, said after several dozen revisions, local government officials seem to be in favor of the latest route.
"We think we have something everyone can live with," Barnhart said.
The trail is planned to run from the center of Lordstown and eventually hook up with a section of the Lake to River Trail being built in Weathersfield Township and Niles.
The latest route would go along Salt Springs Road from the Lordstown Administration building to just before Austintown-Warren Road, when it would follow the same easements used by Ohio Edison for the power lines.
The path would come up to the Mahoning Valley Sanitary District's property and follow along the northern edge of the property, then into the back edge of a cemetery in Weathersfield Township before hooking back up with Salt Springs Road.
Barnhart said he's already met with Weathersfield Township trustees and township Administrator David Pugh and has received tentative approval for the plan.
"We need to take it to the MVSD again," he added, noting he will take the latest proposal to the directors' regular meeting later this month.
"If they say yes, then we should have a final route," Barnhart continued.
Background
Discussions for reviving the trail idea started up more than eight months ago, but an exact route has yet to be pinned down. The plans have been revised more than 65 times for various reasons, including resistance from homeowners and dramatically increased costs associated with some proposals.
If the route is approved by all parties, Barnhart said Lordstown officials could hire an engineering firm for the project as early as the beginning of December.
The village has already received $1.1 million in funding through state grants for engineering and construction of the path. The village will be responsible for 20 percent of the engineering costs -- which is expected to run between $20,000 and $40,000 -- and none of the construction costs.
One of the funding requirements is that engineering on the project must be completed by June 2005 so construction can begin in fiscal year 2007.
slshaulis@vindy.com