by Kristina Gabalski
Although leaders say there is likely very little chance that it will become a reality, the Towns of Riga, Chili and the Village of Churchville now have a feasibility study and final recommendations for alignment of a 15-mile multi-use trail that would connect Churchville Park with the Genesee Valley Greenway.
An open house held Thursday, November 29 at the Churchville-Chili Middle School was well attended by residents, who were able to view presentation materials of the project overview, trail alignment alternatives and the preferred trail alignment and conceptual design. Members of the project team including municipal leaders and representatives from Bergmann Associates, Steinmetz Planning and the Genesee Transportation Council were also on hand to answer questions. Funding for the feasibility study was provided by the Genesee Transportation Council.
There had been hope that the trail would run along Black Creek, but much of the land is privately owned and landowners made it clear at a meeting in May that they were not in favor of the trail crossing through their properties. Members of the committee which was formed to look into the possibility of a trail said seasonal flooding along the creek also made alignment along the creek difficult.
The preferred trail alignment recommendation keeps the trail along public sidewalks and roadways and passes through the Village of Churchville, Black Creek Park, Union Station Park and the Chili Nature Center.
Leaders of the three municipalities say the cost of such a project means it likely will never become a reality.
Chili Supervisor David Dunning, who spear-headed the effort, says originally it was thought the trail could be constructed for about $1.2 million, but final estimates are in the $6 million range.
Dunning says he is disappointed with the conclusions of the study.
“I was excited about the project,” he says. “Black Creek is a beautiful creek. I want the public to be able to enjoy it, but they can’t.” He says the cost of constructing the trail along the recommended alignment makes it unfeasible.
Riga Supervisor Bob Ottley says the results of the study did not surprise him.
“It came out how I thought it would,” he says – with no favorable alignment along the creek.
Supervisor Ottley also cited the issue of seasonal flooding along the creek as a major drawback to aligning the trail along the creek bank, however, “looking at alternatives, I thought, was a good idea,” he added.
Churchville Mayor Nancy Steedman said, “I’m excited about the possibilities within the village. I’m happy the feasibility study included Howard Street.”
Municipal leaders noted there is interest among bicyclists for more bike trails throughout the area and added that the study will be a helpful tool for future improvement of roads and streets included in the preferred alignment. Having such a study in place, they say, is useful when applying for grant money should the municipalities decide at some point to widen roads included in the feasibility study to allow space for bicycle lanes.
Riga Town Board member Deborah Campanella was a member of the committee formed to look into the possibility of the trail.
She said the study is a good thing for all three communities and will help with proper planning in the future.
“It’s good to do planning,” she said, “it provides a vision of change for the future.”
