Future Of Proposed Trail Extension Discussed By Madison Council

MADISON, NJ — Members of the Madison Borough Council heard both endorsement and opposition to the proposed extension during a recent Borough Council meeting to discuss the future of the Traction Line Trail.

According to Morris County Park Commission Director Denise Chaplick, the trail itself begins at Morris Avenue and ends at Danforth Road, with the current proposal extending the trail down to Elm Street.

The Traction Line Trail runs parallel to the New Jersey Transit Line rail tracks from Morristown to Madison. It was constructed in 1986 and was only extended once, in 1997. Similar extensions have been proposed twice before, in 2012 and 2019, but have been rejected both times by the Madison Council.

"The Morris County Park Commission has owned the property since 1981 and it has always had the intended use of a recreation trail and non-motorized transportation link," Chaplick said.

According to Chaplick, the trail had between 40,000 and 90,000 users in 2021, depending on the location surveyed, with the majority of them being bikers and joggers. Chaplick stated that there are only 40,000 visitors per year in the Danforth Road area because "it terminates, it doesn't really go anywhere," but believes that if the trail is extended, the number of visitors will increase.

"I'm so glad we had these counters in place during COVID because it showed a tripling in some locations of usage during the lockdown… So we have some really valid numbers of usage here," Chaplick said.

After the presentation, several residents spoke out both against and in favor of the extension.

One resident, Claire Whitcomb delved into the environmental impact caused by non-permeable surfaces and how many trees and local plants would have to be removed. "There are a substantial amount of trees that will be sacrificed for a pavement and I don't clearly understand the need for spending $3 million on a 3200-foot bike trail when there are roads that can be easily accessed without danger," said Whitcomb.

Local resident Daniel Perrigan expressed similar concerns, explaining that the trail's strip of land is only 30 feet wide, and putting a bike path on that piece of land would necessitate the removal of a significant number of trees."Many of the trees are old 80 to 100-year-old trees with trunks too big to put your arms around."

Perrigan also expressed concern about the impact non-permeable surfaces like asphalt could have on the local aquifer.

Resident Kathleen Caccavale, spoke in favor of the trails, refuting a previous speaker's claim that such a trail could be used by criminals to gain easier access, and noting that, according to the National Association of Realtors, nearby trail access increases property values.

"I would love to see a reduction in motor vehicle miles driven. I would love to see if there is a solution that would save most of the trees on that route," Caccavale said.

Discussion over the trail extension is expected to continue in the following months, according to Mayor Bob Conley. The next Madison Borough Council meeting is scheduled for Sept. 12.