Plans to Fill Gap of Skokie Valley Trail Could Be Foiled
After a grant set back in November, plans to fill the 6.8-mile gap of the Skokie Valley Trail could be foiled by potential cuts in federal funding cuts.
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A potential cut in federal funds could halt Wilmette, Northfield, Northbrook and Glenview's plans to close a 6.8-mile gap of the Skokie Valley Trail, Triblocal reports.
Illinois' newly proposed five-year transportation bill eliminates money for Transportation Enhancements, which jeopordizes plans to connect the trail from the Chicago-area to Wisconsin*, local leaders and advocates told Triblocal. The bill will replace the state's previous six-year transportation plan, which expired last year.
Related: Winnetka Takes Steps to Improve Bikeway System
“If this legislation ends up in the final bill as written, it completely guts every substantial trail — biking and walking — opportunity in the country,” Eric Oberg, a manager of trail development for advocacy group Rails-to-Trails, told Triblocal.
The legislation is currently up for debate in the Illinois House of Representatives.
Read the full story on Triblocal. Stay tuned for more transportation coverage. Like your local Patch on Facebook to join the conversation.
*An original version of this article misspelled Wisconsin.
B. Linden
7:45 am on Tuesday, February 7, 2012
You can't take the "sin" out of Wisconsin: not "Wisconson" as above.
Andrea Hart
9:02 am on Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Thanks for the clever catch. We've made a correction.
Dorinda Campbell
8:45 pm on Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Is the "Skokie Valley Trail" the one that winds through the forest preserve that comes up from the city, through E Glenview, Northfield, etc? I don't know the exact piece where it's missing. Is it the part north of Tower near the Edens. I'd like to see a map to clarify exactly where the trail is that you were discussing in your article.
David Greenberg
10:49 pm on Tuesday, February 7, 2012
I love to bike ride - 20 or 50 miles at a time. But honestly, we can't fund everything. Although the paved trails are nice, I remember having a lot of fun on them when they were completely unpaved. I admit it, I've got a mountain bike - not a racing bike, but still - if the trail exists and it's unpaved then so be it.