Draft: Friends of the Chester Valley Trail

 

November 19, 2013                                          East Whiteland Township Bldg. 7:00 pm

Presiding: Tim Lander                                         Board members present: Mike Broennle, Bob Cochlin, Phil Hoke, Gail Lipstein, and Steve Warren.

                                                                        Representing Chester County: Owen Prusack, Dave Stauffer

                                                                        12 other attendees

 

1.  Minutes

·  Approved minutes for September 17, 2013.

2.  Treasurer’s Report

·  Bob Cochlin reported a balance of $2511.32.  One new member since the last meeting.  The PO Box rental was renewed for 6 mos.

3.  County Update

    Superintendent Owen Prusack and Facilities & Parks Capital Projects Coordinator Dave Stauffer    reported:

·  Phase II is 97% completed.  Items remaining include some fencing, striping, signs, and rehab of the Swedesford Rd bridge.

·  Phase II remains closed because of safety issues including damage to a section of fencing along the quarry west of Chesterbrook Blvd.

·  Matthews Rd needs additional jersey barrier separators.

·  Mile markers are being placed at quarter mi intervals by County staff.

·  Hazardous trees need attention.

·  Temporary chain link fencing is in place pending rehabbing of the old Swedesford Rd bridge.

·  Guard rail needs revision at the east side of the Devon Rd ramp linking to/from 202.

·  The new owner of the Westlakes office campus is willing to discuss trail parking.

·  Daylesford Lakes and Valley Forge Crossing condo associations will provide a trail connection for their residents.

·  Best projection of the opening date at this time is the end of the first week of Dec.

·  Phase III bids were received Nov 8.  The lowest qualified bidder, Flyway Excavators, was recommended to the Commissioners who will vote on Nov 21.

·  The new culvert under the 202 widening site between Bacton Hill Rd and Valley Creek Rd is open.

·  Outside funding will be sought for an outside water fountain.

4.  Montgomery County section of the CVT

·  Tim Lander relayed from Bob O’Leary: Phase I from the Schuylkill River Trail to Henderson Rd is on an old rail bed.  Awaiting PennDOT approval of the Dekalb Pike/202 crossing has caused delay.

·  Final design is pending for Phase II, Henderson Rd to S Gulph.  Total construction will take 2 years though we do not know when it will start.

5.  Betzwood Bike Ped Bridge

·  No update available.

6.  Trail connections

· Connections with Valley Forge Park were briefly discussed, including the Patriots’ Path between VF Park and the Paoli Massacre site in Malvern.

· Tredyferrin Twp. has provisional 5 year plans to connect D’Ambrosio Park to the CVT.

7.  Signage

· Tim relayed from Bob O’Leary:  Bids for historic signs are due to the County by Dec 7.

8.  Wegman’s

· The Friends plan to explore a potential relationship with the Great Valley and KOP Wegman’s.

9.  Phase IVa

· Plans are proceeding to build west from Exton Main Street to Whitford Rd and the Oakland Corporate Center.

10.  Phase IVb

· No current funding or plans for the westward connection to the Struble Trail. Audience comments

11.  Audience comments

·  An attendee reported a recent collision between a pedestrian and a cyclist, apparently without serious injury.

·  The Friends board recently discussed a Trail Ambassadors program.  2 attendees signed up as interested.

 

Next meeting: January 21, 7 pm, E Whiteland Twp. Bldg.; Rescheduled to January 29.

 

Respectfully submitted,   

 

Mike Broennle

 

Draft 1/29/14