Petition for Waterfront Trail

Phase 1 of the Cayuga Waterfront Trail consists of a two-mile loop on the northeast side of the flood control channel. The next phase is going to connect this loop to trails on the other side of the channel leading to the Ithaca Farmers’ Market and Stewart Park. We ask you to support the development of this trail system by signing the petition below. If you want to familiarize yourself with details of the trail project, visit their website, Cayuga Waterfront Trail.

Dear Mayor Peterson and Common Council Members,

I support the City's efforts to develop the Cayuga Waterfront Trail for the following reasons:
 

 •The completed first phase in Cass Park is heavily-used in all seasons and is a great addition to our community's waterfront.
 

 • The proposal to use the northernmost 7' of the right-hand-only turning lane of the Route 96 bridge over the Flood Control Channel for the trail is a cost effective and creative solution that improves traffic safety and does not impact traffic at the Route 89/96 or other West End intersections. The State Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, and the City's Fire Chief Brian Wilbur have all approved the bridge lane conversion proposal.
 

 •Phase 2 will help to revitalize West End business by beautifying and providing much needed pedestrian and non-motorized transportation to the area. Many West End businesses support the development of the Waterfront Trail.
 

 •The trail will make bike and pedestrian access to the Ithaca Farmers Market, Stewart Park, the Ithaca Youth Bureau and the County Visitors Center safe and sustainable.
 

 •The Cayuga Waterfront Trail can be the centerpiece of a regional trail system that will serve commuters, recreational riders and visitors to our region.
 

The Waterfront Trail will help make our waterfront accessible to people of all ages, races, socioeconomic levels and physical abilities. I urge you to move ahead on this important project.

Name:

E-mail address:

City:

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Paul Warrender, Ithaca

Sigrid Pauen, Ithaca
so important.just visited denmark.spent 2 weeks on bikes.safe and sound.it is such a different way of interacting with the world around you. mind and heart get a great work out.

Matt Lewis, Ithaca

Leon Miller-Out, Ithaca
Phase 2 of the Waterfront Trail will provide a safe and enjoyable alternative to the 5-lane Route 13 crossing at Third St. We can't wait!

robin atkin, ithaca

Marilyn Dispensa, Dryden
Small things that cost some money in the short term pay off in the long term in quality of life encouraging fitness and lower medical costs. Off road trails make walking cycling and fitness more attainable for more people.

Britta Lee, Ithaca

Charles C. Elrod, Enfield
We need to move Phase 2 along for completion of this important economic development project. I hope you will vote to support the Cayuga Waterfront Development Trail

James Jones-Rounds, Ithaca
The slower you pass by (i.e. in a bike vs. a car) the more likely you are to stop and see what's going on in the community, in a store, in a park, etc.

Anne Marie Whelan, Ithaca
The route is already used by many, but would be so much more used with an improved surface and more attractive landscaping. Currently many consider it a rundown, scary part of town. Putting in the trail can only be advantageous to the business owners as well as the entire community.

susan arnsten-russell, ithaca
The waterfront trail is the best thing that could happen to ithaca

Brent Katzmann, Ithaca
The CWT is a much needed step towards becoming a truly pedestrian friendly, less car dependent community. Without Phase 2, the true benefit of interconnecting east and west shores of the lakefront and drawing pedestrians through the west end corridor, is lost. Improving citizen access to the lakefront will also breed greater public interest in protecting waterfront and lake water quality.

Helene Maddux, Ithaca

xxxxxxxx, Ithaca

Liz Woods, Ithaca
My children and I use the Waterfront Trail frequently, and I am keenly in favor of a safer way to cross the inlet by bicycle, especially with young children who are just beyond the wobbly stage on bikes.

xxxxxxxx, Ithaca
This project is a wonderful step forward in making the waterfront accessable to the community, it is long overdue.

Robert Costello, Ithaca
I can't think of any one endeavor that would more greatly improve the experience of the Ithaca waterfront than the implementation of this plan. I believe it would be a boon to tourism and a major improvment to the quality of life in the community! I would even be willing to pay additional tax money to see it implmented.

Gerald Coles, Ithaca

Joanna Green, Newfield

Margaret Jastran, Ithaca
This project will benefit so many and a wide variety of people. It will seem a foolish move if we don't proceed.

LiLynn Graves, Ithaca
A pedestrian bridge along 96/89 would be wonderful and SAFE

Kate Dickin, Ithaca

xxxxxxxx, Ithaca
My wife and I use the Waterfront Trail throughout the year for walking and biking and are in support of completion of Phase Two.

david pelletier, Ithaca
This trail would benefit residents, businesses and our attractiveness as a tourist destination. Will more than pay for itself over time. Long overdue.

Elizabeth G Thomas, Trumansburg
As a councilwoman for the Town of Ulysses, I see the Waterfront Trail as part of the network connecting Trumansburg to Ithaca for both recreation and alternative transportation. I also am a landowner bordering the Black Diamond Trail and though this trail MAY slightly impinge on my privacy, the benefit for the greater good far outweighs any potential negatives for me personally. Certainly, unhappy landowners along the Waterfront trail will continue to protest, but again, I feel this trail is for the greater good and should proceed for the benefit of many.

6 Responses to “Petition for Waterfront Trail”

  1. I’ve had two passionately negative comments — one left on this website and one on my home answering machine — charging that I “want to steal land from responsible business people” and, most emphatically, that I am “vicious.” Neither of these people left their name or email, and I’ve deleted both contributions. This petition is not being done in any secrecy or concealment; my name is on the website and my number is listed. I invite people to enter into a debate if they wish. It would make more sense to do it on the “Discussion” page of this site, but here is ok, too.

    Andrejs

  2. We had similiar trails in NewPaltz and Goshen New York and they really brought the community together. It is great for all ages and it promotes a healthy community…it is why people are moving here for the lifestyle and what Ithaca has to offer…this only enhances it and what better way to invest into the community!!!!!

  3. Andrejs – I grabbed some of the conversation from the FLCC (road cycling) list serve and posted it to my outdoor blog. Not everyone is on that list serve. Nice comments from Rick Manning and Alderperson Jennifer Dotson there in response to another comment: http://canaaninstitute.org/bikeskiblog/?p=717#comments -Mike

  4. We lived by the canal trail in Fairport near Rochester, and it was a great way to get around, and brought a LOT of tourists into town. Businesses did well along the trail. We would LOVE to see this in Ithaca.

  5. Of course, what a great site and informative posts, I will add backlink – bookmark this site? Regards, Reader.

  6. [...] § Sign electronic petition in support of the trail at http://bikeithaca.org/?page_id=16 [...]

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