Upper Saucon and Coopersburg Talk Phase Two of Rail Trail

Upper Saucon Township manager Tom Beil spoke before Coopersburg Borough Council about the Rails to Trails project. Upper Saucon recently completed phase one of its portion of the trail. The grand opening will be on June 11 at 10am at the Township Park on Preston Lane. Phase two will be another two-mile section that will ultimately link up with Coopersburg’s to-be-constructed half-mile trail. Beil was on hand to explain the process of constructing a trail as well as to begin coordinating efforts between the municipalities.

“We have real opportunity here to work together for the good of our community,” Beil said to council.

Beil discussed the decisions that council will ultimately have to consider when constructing its own portion of the trail. Beil discussed trail surface, potentially using fabric under the trail, and advised council to begin speaking with the state Department of Transportation about any major crossings along the trail. The Coopersburg portion of the trail would have one main crossing at E. Station Avenue.

“You may need a flashing warning device [for the E. Station Avenue crossing],” Beil said. “If you do, you want to get that started as soon as you can.” Beil continued, “That’s going to be costly.” The Upper Saucon phase-one trail has one flashing warning device.

In light of this information, council considered cutting its portion of the trail at E. Station Avenue. “It might not be worth it,” said Councilman Dennis Balascak. “We don’t go that far past Station Avenue.” Council made no decisions on the matter.

Beil also updated council on the timeline for phase two of the Upper Saucon trail. The township has considered having the Brinely Court developer, who is required to create $500,000 in recreational improvements on the property, develop a portion of the trail.

“The developer would like to start next year but may not be able," Beil said. "A delay for the developer would mean a delay for us as well.” Beil told council that Upper Saucon would like to begin construction on phase two in 2012, but that a delay could push its plans back to 2013.

“It’s done very well,” said council president Mark Hovis of Upper Saucon’s trail. “Very nicely done.”

“We’re very eager to begin the next section,” Beil concluded. “We can build something together that the community could enjoy.”

The next council meeting will be at 7pm June 14. The next township supervisors meeting is scheduled for 6pm June 6.