Politics & Government
Rail Trail Committee to Continue After Completion of Trail
The task force will help address issues related to the use and maintenance of the Saucon Rail Trail after it opens.
With the Saucon Rail Trail about ready to open, many may be wondering what will happen to the volunteer task force that's helped see the project through to completion.
At the Rail Trail Advisory Committee meeting April 26, Lower Saucon Township Manager Jack Cahalan answered questions about what will become of the committee .
“The committee intends to stay in effect, however a new role will be outlined in the intergovernmental agreement, which is nearing completion,” Cahalan said.
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The intergovernmental agreement is a new undertaking by Lower Saucon, Hellertown, Upper Saucon Township and Coopersburg, the four municipalities through which the trail passes. so it
The committee will continue to meet in order to address issues related to the trail's use and maintenance, some of which can be anticipated and some of which may crop up unexpectedly, as is often the case with new recreational facilities.
Find out what's happening in Hellertown-Lower Sauconwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
In fact, much of the committee's April meeting was spent addressing hypothetical issues that might arise and discussing how they would be dealt with by law enforcement.
Two Lower Saucon Township police officers were present to answer questions from both committee members and members of the public.
Some of the highlights included:
- All alcoholic beverages are prohibited.
- Dogs are allowed as long as they are leashed.
- No motorized vehicles are permitted, except motorized wheelchairs and Segways.
- Horseback riding is prohibited.
- Open from dawn to dusk.
Several of the municipalities agreed that smoking should be prohibited, however Cathy Kichline said the borough plans to officially remain silent on that issue for now.
Also present at the meeting was Andrew Hamilton, a representative from Doylestown who works with a bike trail system that runs through Bucks County.
Hamilton said his group is in the beginning stages of planning the development of a trail they hope to connect at county lines.
Their hope is to extend the trail to Quakertown, New Hope and Philadelphia, he said.
