[Guest opinion by John Lahner, published in the October 24, 2021, issue of the Bucks County Courier Times.]

Two years ago, the Newtown Rail Trail was a hot topic in the area. When the Northampton Township Supervisors gave their support to the trail, it seemed like it was going to happen.

Unfortunately, there is still some strong opposition to the trail. The opposition said it would be an '"ideal escape” route. Why would this be since there are many more escape routes out front. Why would it cost more to police the route than the streets out front?

There was a complaint about the trail being too close to houses. As I ride the canal trail, I see many homes near the trail with only 3- or 4-foot-high fences. I lived in Lower Bucks for 55 years with a school yard behind my house. No problems. Also there are some areas of the trail that are being used for dumps.

Now for the positive aspects. According to a report prepared by the Delaware Department of Transportation, “the majority of the studies indicate that the presence of a bike trail either increases property values and ease of a sale or has no effect.”

Studies have shown that neighbors of many trails feel that the quality of life in their neighborhood is good and an improvement from before the trail went in. There is definitely a large portion of the population that sees the trails as an amenity and will seek out residences near trails.

In addition to the conclusions of this report, there are many other local advantages. It will get some bicycles off the roads. It will provide a safe place for young children to ride their bikes without having to worry about car traffic. The trail will permit township residents to access shopping and other activities in Newtown without having to go on crowded roads in this area, thus lessening pollution and making for safer travel.

[Read “Newtown Rail Trail Construction to Begin”; https://sco.lt/4w84B6 ]

This looks like a win-win situation. I can't wait, even though I live in Bensalem Township.

Evan Stone, executive director of the Bucks County Planning Commission, expressed a big thank you to Mother Nature on Tuesday. She delayed the “torrential rains” expected this week so they wouldn’t dampen the groundbreaking for the new Newtown Rail Trail.

As the sun shone brightly, Stone and several other Bucks and Montgomery County officials picked up shovels to start work on the new multi-purpose trail as dozens of spectators watched at the former Southampton railroad station off Second Street Pike.

Years in the making, the trail will be laid on the right-of-way where the former Newtown rail line used to run before SEPTA closed it down in 1983. The first section of trail, for which the ground was broken, will extend from Bristol Road to County Line Road in Upper Southampton.

When it opens, it will be used by walkers, joggers and bicyclists and will connect Tamanend Park in Upper Southampton to the Pennypack Rail Trail in Montgomery County after a small section of trail running from County Line to the Pennypack trail is finished. The existing Pennypack Trail runs through Montgomery and Philadelphia to the Delaware River.

The Newtown project is expected to cost approximately $2.4 million. Design costs were funded by PennDOT’s Act 13 Marcellus Legacy Fund, Montgomery County and the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission’s Regional Trails Program via the William Penn Foundation, said Bucks spokesman Larry King. SEPTA is leasing the right-of-way for the project at $1 a year, said Paul Gordon of the Bucks County Planning Commission.

Further Reading:

• “Guest Opinion: Newtown Rail Trail is a Win-Win for Newtown and Other Area Bike Riders”; http://sco.lt/7j5Y5Q
• “Plans to Complete Newtown Rail Trail Bike/Run Path Depend on Impact Study Results”; http://sco.lt/6FEonw
• “Newtown Township Trail Plan Struggles to Get Off the Ground”; http://bit.ly/NTtrailplan