This week’s Nickel Plate Trail announcement from Fishers and Noblesville was met with a tremendous amount of excitement from both communities. Word spread faster than a bullet (thanks to Twitter) and more powerful than a … well, locomotive.
While this proposal is generating wide coverage in the media and discussion at every coffee shop from The Edge to the Courthouse Square, I wanted to delve into further details on the route through Noblesville and what it means for the potential Pleasant Street project.
Whether you are a fan of rails, trails or both, the time is now for our community to make this move given the opportunity to apply the National Trails System Act that would allow converting the rail line to a trail – while preserving the right to re-establish a rail service should it be needed in the future.
We foresee a high degree of recreational usage for the Nickel Plate Trail, connecting our two cities. Heading north from 146th Street, residents and visitors will travel alongside Noblesville woodlands, neighborhoods and business parks before meeting up in Old Town at Pleasant Street where the Nickel Plate will intersect with the future Midland Trace Trail.
Keep imagining as you turn onto the Midland Trace (because the Nickel Plate Rail tracks veer into 8th Street at this point) and head west to where it connects with the Riverwalk trail. Using the scenic Riverwalk alongside the White River, pedestrians can travel north to pass under both Conner Street and Logan Street bridges to arrive at the Pocket Park where the county’s White River Greenway trail crosses over into Forest Park.
What about the Nickel Plate tracks that run north of the Pocket Park toward Cicero? What if we continued the Nickel Plate Trail, and extended it north between Forest Park and Fox Prairie Golf Course and continued beyond 196th Street? That decision is still to be determined, but it is a discussion that we welcome.
For now, however, Fishers and Noblesville will focus our initial plans for the Nickel Plate Trail from 96th Street to Pleasant Street.
Speaking of Pleasant Street, we believe nearby residents will be excited to welcome two major urban trails intersecting this historic area right outside their homes and businesses. Think of the Indianapolis Cultural Trail and imagine what we can do with our own trail to celebrate the history and vibrancy of the Old Town we know and love. The ability to inspire redevelopment with improved safety and connectivity is something we can work together to achieve.
At the same time, the City will soon begin the initial survey and design work that is necessary before any expansion of Pleasant Street with the new bridge over the White River. While the rendering of the Nickel Plate Trail depicts a possible view of this intersection of low-speed roadways and pedestrian trails – it is only a concept at this point and does not represent the exact route, real estate impact or other engineering details.
Our city leaders long ago realized the value of a robust trail system, evidenced by the 84 miles of current trails that traverse Noblesville and give residents lots of options for outdoor recreation. Starting this year, we will add to that system with the Midland Trace, Little Chicago Road and Levee trails all beginning construction in 2017. I hope you are as excited as I am to add to this system the Nickel Plate Trail.
In the meantime, learn more about the proposal and get answers to your questions about the Nickel Plate. Attend one of two community listening sessions that are scheduled for Tuesday, March 21 from 6-8 p.m. at Fishers City Hall Auditorium (1 Municipal Drive) or Thursday, March 23 at Noblesville City Hall, 2nd Floor Conference Room (16 S. 10th Street).
Until next time, see you on the square.