2010 will be a busy year for greenways in Columbus…and well it should be. We have lots to share.

Olentangy Trail

Starting with the hard news—the trail will be closed between Pacemont and Patterson for a sewer improvement project. I’ve attached the detour (which of course has to rely on High St.). Utilities has promised us this will be very quick, mostly February and March.

OSU is building the trail @ Herrick Bridge and the Drake Union!!! (I’ll let Steve Volkmann chime in on this–he’s done all the hard work.) Many of you have already heard about it. This is a fantastic improvement. It will mean a Cannon Drive work around the campus trail section for a season…but I think we all will rejoice when this is all done. Congratulations Steve on patience and perseverance.

Safety Improvements

We will be out on the path this spring with some needed safety improvements:

1. Re-striping the centerline of the Olentangy
2. Improving the sharp turn hazard areas (especially downtown @ the Confluence Bridge)
3. New trailhead maps and signage

Scioto Trail

A new bridge is now under construction: the first ever bikeway project in the west side – the Scioto Hilltop Connector bridge. This bridge will span the Scioto from McKinley Ave. to the existing trail from Grandview Ave. to Riversedge. Actually, there’s a ton of projects in the next two years in the near west  side/Grandview areas. In short, we will have seamless connectivity from Harrison West to Hilltop, from Upper Arlington to downtown. This was a long time coming, with lots of planning, coaxing, and discussion.

Note: Keep crossing your fingers on congress, the state, and the city on continuing their crucial support for projects such as these…it is the lifeblood of our move towards an active transportation Mecca.

Alum Creek Trail

A 2 mile section from Innis Park to Sunbury Road is now under construction. Thanks to MORPC’s stimulus funding set aside. This is a key segment—we only have two short segments left, and this entire trail will be complete—22 miles from Westerville to Obetz, including a direct connection to downtown/Columbus State. You will hear more about this…we need your continued voice and support, even if your are an Olentangy Trail regular or on-street regular (or like most of us, both)

Land Acquisition

It takes land to do these projects. Right now we’re quietly working some major greenway corridor acquisition projects on the Big Walnut (wait until you experience this river corridor—unbelievable). Also 2 miles of major work on Clover Groff, a tributary of the Big Darby (for you far west siders)

And our key partner Metro Parks is extremely busy—both with construction and acquisition, and soon they will be taking on a big hand with trail security and maintenance. Watch the news for the 11 mile Camp Chase Rail Trail on the west side and the Blacklick Trail. They are single handedly finishing the Blacklick Trail; including some very difficult projects @ Rt. 33 and Hines Road on the far east side. Three Creeks to Blendon Woods, with direct connectivity to downtown and everywhere in the metro region. (Within two or three projects, folks, you will be able to ride so far you’ll need provisions and a tent.)

This email started as a heads up about an unfortunate trail detour near the OSU wetlands and has turned into a newsletter. I apologize for the length. Please respond with any comments you have. This is becoming a very large regional system, and I hope to keep in contact with as many of you as possible.

Thanks for your support!