WINONA LAKE - A petition to request a sidewalk or walkway along CR 250E in Winona Lake was presented to the town council Tuesday.
Tanna Wright, a Heritage Lake Park subdivision resident, presented the petition with more than 150 signatures. Signatures were collected from residents from Lexington Manor Subdivision, Heritage Lake Park Subdivision and Stonehenge.
Approximately 10 residents from the subdivisions attended the meeting and voiced their support for a sidewalk and concerns with safety for bicyclists and pedestrians who use CR 250E.Wright, who has lived at 2530 Liberty Drive for the past five years, started the petition May 9.
Previous to the meeting, Wright mailed and e-mailed a letter to council members stating her concerns with safety along the road. Wright said she feels there is still time to construct a sidewalk while the road is being reconstructed.
Town Coordinator Craig Allebach said the design plans have already been approved for the CR 250E reconstruction and it would be too late to change the plans to include installing a sidewalk at this point. He said the council could look into installing a sidewalk after the CR 250E project is completed.
Wright said she is concerned for the safety of students who walk to Lakeland Christian Academy and those who use the greenway.
A second grant is being applied for the next stage of the greenway path that would eventually end at Lakeland Christian Academy.
Wright said she approached the Winona Lake Town Council five years ago and voiced her concerns with the high volumes of traffic along the road.
Allebach said the town council held a meeting with Winona Lake residents in 2000 to discuss design plans for the CR 250E project. He said the town council supported a sidewalk in 2000, but there was an overwhelming response from residents who did not want a sidewalk.
Stonehenge resident Faye Jagger said she supports a sidewalk along the road.
"I travel the road at least twice a day and traffic filters from Pierceton Road, and it seems to make sense to install a sidewalk when the road is being reconstructed," Jagger said.
Lorraine Deffenbaugh, a Lexington Manor resident, suggested there be more speed limit signs, enforcement on CR 250E, and signs that inform drivers to share the road with bicyclists.
"As a runner, I see cars driving by at high speeds and I think increased signage would encourage drivers and pedestrians to share the road," Deffenbaugh said.
Allebach said he will speak with the police department about additional signage along CR 250E.
Allebach said a possibility could be the neighborhood forming a committee and partnering with the town to raise funds for creating a sidewalk along CR 250E.
Letting for the project began May 16. Bids will be awarded and the CR 250E project should begin within the next 60 days, Allebach said.
Council President Dave Delp said the council will review and discuss the petition with INDOT. Allebach will then present a letter to Wright that states options or alternatives to installing a sidewalk along CR 250E.
"We are willing to work with you and are not ignoring the issues because we also think they are important," Delp said.
Also during the meeting, Jan Nelson, 1012 Court Circle, expressed her concern with a portion of the greenway bike trail.
"Bicyclers, joggers and skaters going north on East Canal Street seem to have no place to go beginning at the Cerulean Restaurant down to Auditorium Boulevard," Nelson said.
She said there seems to be a dotted line indicator beginning at Administration Boulevard going south for one block, but is not clear enough to be safe.
She said the minimum acceptable width of a bike path shared with joggers and skaters is 8 feet, according to American Association of State Highway and Transportation official guidelines for bicycle facilities.
Allebach said the council will look at the area and assess the situation.
The council also:
n Approved an ordinance for a temporary loan to transfer $75,000 from the Wastewater Operating Fund to the General Fund to support expenses.
n Approved a revenue sharing agreement with Holt, Sheets and Associates and the town for a vehicle collision reporting system.
Upcoming events in the town include a water quality meeting at the Winona Lake Senior Center May 30 at 7 p.m., IHSAA Golf Sectional at Stonehenge June 2, an art fair June 2-8, an outdoor symphony concert June 3, Optimist Lake City Triathlon at Winona Lake Park June 23, Master Works Festival June 24 through July 21, a Firecracker 5K race at Winona Lake Park June 30, Winona Lake Great Fourth of July Celebration at Winona Lake Park June 30, and fireworks over Winona Lake at dusk June 30.WINONA LAKE - A petition to request a sidewalk or walkway along CR 250E in Winona Lake was presented to the town council Tuesday.
Tanna Wright, a Heritage Lake Park subdivision resident, presented the petition with more than 150 signatures. Signatures were collected from residents from Lexington Manor Subdivision, Heritage Lake Park Subdivision and Stonehenge.
Approximately 10 residents from the subdivisions attended the meeting and voiced their support for a sidewalk and concerns with safety for bicyclists and pedestrians who use CR 250E.
Wright, who has lived at 2530 Liberty Drive for the past five years, started the petition May 9.
Previous to the meeting, Wright mailed and e-mailed a letter to council members stating her concerns with safety along the road. Wright said she feels there is still time to construct a sidewalk while the road is being reconstructed.
Town Coordinator Craig Allebach said the design plans have already been approved for the CR 250E reconstruction and it would be too late to change the plans to include installing a sidewalk at this point. He said the council could look into installing a sidewalk after the CR 250E project is completed.
Wright said she is concerned for the safety of students who walk to Lakeland Christian Academy and those who use the greenway.
A second grant is being applied for the next stage of the greenway path that would eventually end at Lakeland Christian Academy.
Wright said she approached the Winona Lake Town Council five years ago and voiced her concerns with the high volumes of traffic along the road.
Allebach said the town council held a meeting with Winona Lake residents in 2000 to discuss design plans for the CR 250E project. He said the town council supported a sidewalk in 2000, but there was an overwhelming response from residents who did not want a sidewalk.
Stonehenge resident Faye Jagger said she supports a sidewalk along the road.
"I travel the road at least twice a day and traffic filters from Pierceton Road, and it seems to make sense to install a sidewalk when the road is being reconstructed," Jagger said.
Lorraine Deffenbaugh, a Lexington Manor resident, suggested there be more speed limit signs, enforcement on CR 250E, and signs that inform drivers to share the road with bicyclists.
"As a runner, I see cars driving by at high speeds and I think increased signage would encourage drivers and pedestrians to share the road," Deffenbaugh said.
Allebach said he will speak with the police department about additional signage along CR 250E.
Allebach said a possibility could be the neighborhood forming a committee and partnering with the town to raise funds for creating a sidewalk along CR 250E.
Letting for the project began May 16. Bids will be awarded and the CR 250E project should begin within the next 60 days, Allebach said.
Council President Dave Delp said the council will review and discuss the petition with INDOT. Allebach will then present a letter to Wright that states options or alternatives to installing a sidewalk along CR 250E.
"We are willing to work with you and are not ignoring the issues because we also think they are important," Delp said.
Also during the meeting, Jan Nelson, 1012 Court Circle, expressed her concern with a portion of the greenway bike trail.
"Bicyclers, joggers and skaters going north on East Canal Street seem to have no place to go beginning at the Cerulean Restaurant down to Auditorium Boulevard," Nelson said.
She said there seems to be a dotted line indicator beginning at Administration Boulevard going south for one block, but is not clear enough to be safe.
She said the minimum acceptable width of a bike path shared with joggers and skaters is 8 feet, according to American Association of State Highway and Transportation official guidelines for bicycle facilities.
Allebach said the council will look at the area and assess the situation.
The council also:
n Approved an ordinance for a temporary loan to transfer $75,000 from the Wastewater Operating Fund to the General Fund to support expenses.
n Approved a revenue sharing agreement with Holt, Sheets and Associates and the town for a vehicle collision reporting system.
Upcoming events in the town include a water quality meeting at the Winona Lake Senior Center May 30 at 7 p.m., IHSAA Golf Sectional at Stonehenge June 2, an art fair June 2-8, an outdoor symphony concert June 3, Optimist Lake City Triathlon at Winona Lake Park June 23, Master Works Festival June 24 through July 21, a Firecracker 5K race at Winona Lake Park June 30, Winona Lake Great Fourth of July Celebration at Winona Lake Park June 30, and fireworks over Winona Lake at dusk June 30.
