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The Fishers City Council on Monday night approved a plan that will make it easier for runners, walkers and bikers to access the Nickel Plate Trail on the city’s northwest side.
The council voted 9-0 to approve an interlocal agreement between Fishers and Delaware Township to fill gaps in the trail connection east of the roundabout of 131st Street and Lantern Road.
The plan, which will cost about $482,500, will fill a gap in the trail connection just east of the 131st Street/Lantern Road roundabout and another along 131st Street just west of the Nickel Plate Trail.
“Several of you have commented that when you drive on 131st Street, you see what I see out of my office window all the time, and that’s people struggling to get along 131st Street,” Delaware Township Trustee Debbie Driskell told the council.
Fishers will be responsible for managing the design, construction and inspection of the project, while Delaware Township will contribute $400,000 toward the project cost.
The Nickel Plate Trail in Fishers spans from 146th Street to 106th Street with construction underway to extend the trail to 96th Street.
Another 2-1/2-mile section of the trail is under construction from 146th Street to Pleasant Street in Noblesville.
Last year, Indianapolis received a $5 million grant through Indiana’s Next Level Trails program to construct the Nickel Plate Trail between 42nd and 96th streets.
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Next step – Build trail along full length of 106th Street.
This is much needed. I live in the townhouses in the middle of this proposed expansion and either avoid using the trails along lantern when walking the dog or am one of the individuals that sprint down the road and then jump into people’s yards as traffic approaches. I have to be one of the “people struggling to get along 131st Street,” that the article mentions.
The expansion of the Nickle Plate Trail to 96th Street was opened, so your article is a little out of date in that regard. All that is left for Fishers for the “base” of the trail is to complete the bridge over 96th Street to connect to Indianapolis’ part of the trail. (Of course, there are also all of the nice amenities the city presented to the people in the 2040 trail plan).
As to the sidewalk on 131st Street, it is great to see Delaware Township step in and fill what is truly a safety issue. That sidewalk should have been done with the trail was put in place. Better late than never, and it will keep a lot of people a lot safer because people had to walk on sections of that road to get to the trail. Thank you Delaware Township.