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Borough council considers future linear trail routes
By JAMES McGINNIS
Ephrata Review
Published: May 07, 2008 10:41 AM EST
EPHRATA - Ephrata officials discussed plans for the next phase of the Ephrata Linear
Park and improvements to State Street and Reading Road at the borough
council meeting Monday.
Borough manager Gary Nace said that he
wants conceptual plans drafted showing possible routes that the Ephrata
Linear Park may take around the train station between Main Street and Rose
Alley. The plans would be shown to the owners of several local businesses,
as well as members of Downtown Ephrata Inc., in order to determine which
route will ultimately be chosen. The paved, multi-use trail is being
constructed along the former Reading Railroad right-of-way.
Council
member Anthony Kilkuskie said that the borough's park and recreation
committee favors constructing the trail around the right side of the
station. He estimated that about three spaces in the parking lot off Rose
Alley would have to be removed for the trail. "The preferred route is to
go between the Ephrata Review building and flea market, cross Main Street,
then tack right past the railroad station and through the center of the
parking lot," he said. "However, we want to make sure everyone is on board
before we continue."
Council member Russell Shirker questioned the
need to route the trail through the parking lot. He suggested that
upgrading the sidewalk that currently runs between the station and the
Royer building for trail use may be a better alternative.
"This
would be a straight line, and no parking spaces would have to be removed,"
Shirker pointed out.
Kilkuskie said that the committee studied that
possibility, but felt it may be too narrow to adequately handle the
increased foot and bicycle traffic that would result if it became part of
the trail. However, he added that Shirker had a good point about the route
providing a straight line and eliminating the need to decrease parking
space, and said that this alternative will be among the ones presented to
Downtown Ephrata Inc. "Your point is well-taken," Kilkuskie
said.
.500The borough constructed the first phase of the Linear
Park between Sycamore Road and Fulton Street last summer and fall. Work on
Phase 2, which will extend from Fulton Street to Main Street, will take
place this summer. No date has yet been set for construction on the
portions north of Main Street.
Long-range plans anticipate
connecting the Linear Park to the Lititz-Warwick Trailway via a new rail
trail that would run between the south end of Ephrata to the Warwick
Township Municipal building on Clay Road east of Lititz.
.500
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.500The council discussed planned improvements to three streets
that they expect to approve at next Monday's action
meeting.
Nace recommended that the council accept a bid of
$105,271 from Burkholder Paving to mill and resurface the section of State
Street between Fulton and Orange streets this summer. He pointed out that
the size of the bid was significantly less than the estimated $160,000,
and suggested that the council budget the remaining funds to resurface the
section of State Street between Lime and Orange streets as
well.
Borough Engineering Project Manager David Burkholder, who is
not related to the owners of Burkholder Paving, said that the project is
expected to begin in early August and be completed by Aug. 21.
"Our
goal is to get our street work done before the start of the new school
year," he said.
Nace also recommended that the council approve
easements between Redner's, Zimmerman's Auto and Homett Corporation to
install a traffic signal at the intersection between the entrances to
their parking lots and Route 272. The borough expects installation of the
signal to improve the safety of the intersection.
The council also
expects to accept a $65,654 Lancaster County transportation grant to help
fund the construction of a sidewalk along the west side of Route 272
between Martin Avenue and the northern borough line later this summer, and
to authorize the HRG engineering firm to conduct a feasibility study that
will determine whether a left-hand turn signal can be installed at the
intersection of Main and Lake streets. The study is estimated to cost
$8,500.
.500***
.500The council also expects to approve a
contribution of $350 to the Eicher Indian Museum Board to help pay for the
resetting of the flagstone sidewalk outside the museum, which is located in
Grater Park.
Ephrata Interim Police Chief Tom Shumaker said that
Garden Spot Auto Auction has offered to sell nine of the 12 vehicles from
the department's old fleet. He said that the other three will be donated
to the borough for official use by staff.
The council also
announced plans to renew the $200 per acre lease for the Haller property
to the Zeiset family. The borough leases the tract to the Zeisets, who use
it for farmland, on an annual basis.
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