Vandersteen: Sheboygan nonmotorized projects continue
Late this summer the northern segment of the popular Shoreland 400 Rail to Trail project was paved.
The Shoreland 400 Rail Trail opened in 2013 on a former Union Pacific Railroad corridor through the heart of Sheboygan. More than 30 percent of Sheboygan County’s residents live within a mile of the trail, making it a convenient and safe transportation and recreation option for thousands of people.
The northern terminus of the original trail construction was Martin Avenue. The trail now has been extended an additional sixth of a mile to North Avenue. With the trail extension added, the trail is now 1.85 miles long. The 12-foot wide asphalt pathway has been completed – lights have been installed and will be operational as soon as the electric meter is connected.
A fence will be erected along the West side of the trail and topsoil will be seeded along the trail apron. The extension is estimated to cost $80,000 and was primarily funded by a number of Sheboygan County Stewardship Grants. The trail extension to North Avenue will improve the experience for people biking as it provides a connection to the North Avenue bike facilities which will allow access to more destinations.
The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy recognized the Shoreland 400 Rail Trail in the City of Sheboygan as its National Trail of the Month for May 2014. The trail project was completed in the fall of 2013, and is a product of NOMO Sheboygan County, the federally funded Non-motorized Transportation Pilot Program.
The original trail project was funded by a combination of NOMO funding and funds from the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality program that can benefit counties in the region adjacent to Lake Michigan that experience poor air quality. Both the City of Sheboygan and Sheboygan County provided the matching funds necessary to secure CMAQ grant.
Within one mile of trail corridor, there are approximately 19 schools, 34 churches, 90 manufacturing businesses, 5,300 manufacturing employees and 30 percent of the Sheboygan County population. The focus of this trail was to make it easier for a large concentration of residents to make short regular trips within the city by biking and walking. For visitors, parking for the Shoreland 400 Rail Trail can be found along North Water Street across from Workers’ Water Street Park.
A contest to name the trail was conducted and the name “Shoreland 400” suggested by Bob Esler, a retired high school teacher, was chosen. The name comes from the bright yellow trains that once traveled down the tracks from Chicago to Minneapolis, a trip that was 400 miles and took 400 minutes. Esler, a railroad buff, designed historical signage that is being placed along the trail. The trail is identified with a logo he designed, which is inspired by the logo of the Chicago and North Western Railway and the 400 streamliner that utilized the rail bed from 1942-1971.
Coming up next, NOMO Sheboygan County has bid out a 2.4-mile bicycle and pedestrian trail to be built on the East side of Taylor Drive from Erie Avenue to Crocker Avenue. The section from New Jersey Avenue South will be a separate path constructed alongside the road in the right of way. The segment North of New Jersey Avenue will be a combination of on-street and off-street facilities. The bids for this project will be opened in November and if the bids are within budget, construction is expected to begin in spring of 2016.
Mike Vandersteen is the mayor of the City of Sheboygan