New Haven Independent

Posted by: charlie | March 6, 2007 2:38 PM

It is absolutely RIDICULOUS that the City would even CONSIDER moving the trail to this location from where it is now.

Posted by: Chris | March 6, 2007 9:45 PM

Lynne-
"Its better to be interesting than beautiful."
People whot walk at the two great places you mentioned often complain that they are "fish bowling" - walking the same area back and forth. The long-term vision is to have a ten mile trail from Lighthouse Point to Savin Rock and then a ferry or amphibious bus take you across the harbor. Tourism, recreation, transportation. The Port section is not necessarily beautiful but it is interesting, direct, and safe. The alternative routes are death defying. This waterfront trail will link parks, people, and interesting places. I think anyone should be able to get to the harbor by bus, car, bike, or walking and enjoy...

Posted by: Esbe | March 6, 2007 11:04 PM

Kudos to Chris Ozyck, as usual. The Harbor Trail is perhaps New Haven's last chance to really reconnect the city to the harbor. The idea of a bike trail connecting Lighthouse Point to the West Haven beaches has tremendous appeal to everyone I've talked to -- it could be a defining feature of the city and the region.

Young professional workers place a large weight on outdoor recreation and the Harbor Trail would be a wonderful recruiting device for workers and companies thinking of relocating to New Haven. Of course, the benefits to current residents are of a huge value as well.

Posted by: charlie | March 7, 2007 12:38 AM

The point of this small section of the trail, Lynne, isn't to stay along it and hang out. The point is that it gets you from one place to another, and that it is part of a much large route that circles one of the most beautiful harbors in the United States. If you go on the trail at least once a month, like I do, you would realize how shortsighted the city is for even suggesting that the trail should be moved.

Blocking access to this section through the port is the equivalent of building a 30 foot high concrete wall across the New Haven Green. Or perhaps worse.

Posted by: Nan Bartow | March 7, 2007 8:45 AM

There is no reason why we can't improve our overall transportation and build this walking and bike trail. The trail will not be ugly. When it is raised and landscaped with native plants that attract birds and butterflies, it will be a dramatic and lovely green corridor winding through New Haven's industrial harbor area. If we build it, people will use it. Let's not create a gap in the coastal trail. Let's fill in the gap.

Posted by: DEZ | March 7, 2007 9:36 AM

Wow, Lynne, you just don't give up. I don't think you can equate Metro North trains and transportation issues with that of a walking and biking trail. Are you a walker? I am all for public transportation, yet the thought of boarding a bus to go for an abreviated walk is not my idea of a "good time". West Haven, now suffering from another loss, that of the departure of Bayer Healthcare, would do well to welcome the increased foot and bike traffic afforded by the trail and its users as they would frequent establishments along the West Haven beachside. The trail is coming. Its been coming for well over a decade. The City knows it, has planned on it, and the East Coast Greenways people the likes of Chris Ozyck, are making sure that no one forgets it. I have walked the "trail" myself, and found no fewer than 85 conflicts between walker and traffic along Woodward Avenue-I-95 portion of the slated "trail". And that was on a Saturday morning. For the City to stand up to a promise it made over a decade ago and grant a minute percentage of East Shore Parkway to a walking/biking trail is the safest paradigm for the Harbor Trail future users. Anyone who has walked the trail will see that safety, in terms of Homeland Security, is already breached all along Woodward Avenue as it sits directly behind the tank farm in question. I think flying bocce balls from the wooded grounds of the Annex Club afford a more distinct possibility of terror, than a raised, fenced walkway which affords safe passage and open sight lines at a safe distance from supposed targets!

Posted by: Heather | March 7, 2007 10:06 AM

Lynn,
No one can argue that public transportation is important, but you evidently just don't get this. How sad for you that you would rather ride a bus vs. get outdoors on a beautiful day for a walk or bike ride. I do ride a bike and to get through that area on a bike is beyond treacherous. Cars aim right for you and refuse to share the road and bikes are not allowed on sidewalks. This is a matter of safety for some, pleasure for others and both for most. Not all of us want to ride a pollution producing bus! Besides, this is a great way to get kids outside and into healthy exercise on a safe trail. The potential this trail has for schools, commerce, and the general public is exponential and will only grow with time.

Posted by: charlie | March 7, 2007 11:22 AM

Lynne, the issue isn't even about funding. It's about maintaining access and retaining usefulness for a trail that connects two major parts of the shoreline. Sorry that you don't use the trail frequently, but I know from using it that this is used by hundreds of people who are not in the upper-middle class.

Relocating the trail to where the City is proposing - essentially making it useless - would be one of the greatest tragedies in the City's history.

Posted by: iatro | March 7, 2007 10:12 PM

I'm interested, sounds like a great idea- that said, I hope it's done 'right' (at least 4 foot wide and smooth), is well maintained (keep the trailside weeds in check with mowings), and occasional park bench. It would be helpful if someone drew on a map where these two proposed trails are. Would be neat if there is a link to the city green, too. Definitely will add to quality of life.

Posted by: nfjanette | March 8, 2007 12:49 AM

The issue is that any point of view suggesting preferences other than the trail for the spending of a finite amount of government funding is attacked as ignorant - incorrectly. Lynne, I believe you are correct in pointing out the disparity between a relatively small number of hikers/bikers vs. the much larger number of public transportation passengers. One one hand, who doesn't like a nice walk along a scenic route? One the other, who's going to pay for it, from what budget, and what are you giving up instead?

There is a point to be made that 50 years ago New Haven foolishly allowed itself to be cut off from the harbor - both visually and effectively - by the Interstate highways and the connector road to downtown. But does the proposed trail really link downtown to the shoreline? That's not so clear to me, but I respect the opposing views.

Another question might be: are some of the trail advocates correct in predicting that the proposed investment will generate other "returns", such as increased residency in the city? It seems as likely that visitors from surrounding towns would use the trail without lending any benefit to the local economy, much like the trail created on the old Canal Line RR right of way in Hamden.

As for security concerns, I'm far less concerned about attacks on the oil tanks than attacks on walkers in more remote visually obscured areas of the trail.

Posted by: Bruce | March 8, 2007 8:57 AM

The Department of Transportation spend hundreds of millions of dollars on infrastructure to make it easier for people to use motorized vehicles -- how about tossing a little bone for non-motorized vehicles? Some may consider cyclists a small component and that may be so, but also we are not asking for much.

We pay taxes too and we're tired of funding things we'd prefer not to use. Think about the thousands of miles of roads, traffic lights, parking lots, smelly buses, etc. and then look at what we're asking for. One friggin' dedicated path to keep us from getting killed by trucks. What is the big deal?

Posted by: Chris O | March 8, 2007 9:00 AM

Great discussion- I have always been inspired by the Grand Promenade in Central Park, that was designed over 100 years ago, to get people of various backgrounds to mix and socialize- a democratic space. By bringing these "elite" multi-use trails to urban areas, people of all walks of life have access. There are a number of studies that quantitatively show the economic value both in trail user spending and property values. Lack of access to safe places to recreate, contributes to obesity, depression and other health issues. As for the $$$. I have long advocated that the money generated from leasing the 14+ acres of Park and Parkway land (East Shore Parkway) in the port could pay for the construction and or maintenance. Add to this leases for utility corridors, safe disposal of harbor dredging, Green energy projects such as wind turbines, this trail could generate $$$ for other multi-use trails in the city. We are not advocating using the limited pot of transportation dollars, but the city and the Port Authority have an obligation to designate and build the trail from East Shore Park to Forbes Avenue as part of the Port Authority creation deal.
A number of citizens built a trail from downtown to the harbor (1 Mile) in nine months with no transportation dollars used. At that time the city provided 3 curb cuts to facilitate handi-cap accessibility. The rest of the money came from donations and sweat equity. This trail is called the Vision Legacy trail and was built to enhance peoples access to the harbor for the Special Olympics World Games. Recently, High School in the Community has decided to adopt this trail and will work to refurbish it this spring.
Many of these trails such as the Shoreline Trail and East Coast Greenway geographically parallel rail routes. The vision is: a bike rider can travel to work or go for a long ride and take the train home. Lynne- thanks for helping in our thinking and I hope you can join us in a walk on the 31st of March 1:00 East Shore Park.

Posted by: Ben Ross | March 8, 2007 10:25 AM

cool ....the walk is such a good thing.....i think Lynne...an avid public transportation advocate and bus rider.... has some good points...and practical questions about development in our community,they put the harbor trail into part of a big picture.
Confutation about funding for the Harbor trail itself can lead us away for the central issue of government... for people....not bureaucrats...profiteers and the Chamber of Commerce. The state of CT generates enough dough to make a parkway along the water...fund, low priced and efficient public transportation and develop the harbor for the profit (preservation, recreation and commercial) of people living and working in the New Haven area. I would also advocate hiring Lynne as the feet on the ground transportation use Czar for Southern CT.
The big questions are we willing to make this happen. In our discussion we may save energy by the spread of lite more than heat. Ben

Posted by: Paul Hammer | March 8, 2007 10:30 AM

Here's the letter, as promised that I wrote about the Harbor Trail to the New Haven Register, which I hope they will run as an Op-Ed column rather than editing it. It's preceded by a letter I wrote to Alderwoman Erin Sturgis-Pascale, who walked with us on the tour of the trail

Paul D. Hammer

March 14, 2007

Dear Erin,

It was great to walk with you on the proposed Harbor Trail yesterday and talk with you about jobs, ferries, hostels and a variety of other topics.

I just learned today from reading the article about you on the New Haven Register website by Randy Beach, a friend of mine who has profiled me. I was sad to hear your interest in traffic calming is largely borne of personal tragedy when your friend and colleague was killed on the Ella T. Grasso Boulevard. If your work means that your friend and colleague did not die in vain, that is some consolation and will give a meaning to her senseless, untimely passing.

As a Board member and former President of the Connecticut Bicycle and Pedestrian Coalition (CBPC), and President of Bicycle Education, Entrepeneurship, and Enrichment Programs (BEEEP!), Inc., I hope to work with you to calm traffic, teach drivers to share the road with cyclists and pedestrians, and encourage cyclists to wear helmets (required for youth 12 and under) and obey traffic laws.

It is not often that someone is elected on a platform of traffic calming, though I know there were many other issues you campaigned on as well. In this respect, you are a pioneer, a national role model for other politicians who can take your lead by realizing that safety issues related to such issues as drunk driving, hit-and-run drivers, and traffic calming can bring traffic to their websites and win votes.

I also hope to divert youth in the city from attacking people in bicycle gangs to going on bicycle tours.
After all, cycling should not be a one-way ticket to juvenile detention or prison, but a means of liberation, as it was for women in the late 19th century, enabling them to get out of the house independently for the first time, wearing bloomers, or cycling trousers. Similarly, bicycling is often a child's first means of traveling independently

I look forward to working with you on the possible development of a youth hostel, cafe, and museum of local history at 1 Grand Ave., the site of the Warner Hardware store by the Q Bridge. Call me so we can arrange a tour for Dave Daniels, President of Hostelling International's (HI-USA) Yankee (Western New England) Council based in Windsor in the next week or so. I will be going to the Yankee Council's Board meeting this Tuesday evening at 6PM, so if we can speak before then, that would be ideal.

As far as the price goes, I believe that $550,000 is well within the price range of hostels purchased by local HI-USA Councils or by the national office of Hostelling International USA, and the additional $500K that may be required to fix it up does not daunt me either, if we can obtain creative and low-cost financing, some of it subsidized by the government. I don't imagine that a hostel would qualify for financing by the CT Housing Finance Authority (CHFA), but it's worth looking into, as it will be a residential facility, and I'm sure there are other Federal, local and state housing, real estate, and economic development agencies that might be helpful in this regard.

As far as getting financing from a bank, some of the cost could be offset with grants from a bank foundation (e.g. New Alliance Bank Foundation), if the development of a hostel could be shown to be in the public interest. I believe it will, as it will bring tourists to Fair Haven, and restore a building in a beautiful location for public use (e.g. the museum on local history). The hostel could be used as a launching pad or kayak and canoe tours run by a commercial outfitter, with a portion of the profits reverting to mortgage and maintenance costs.

I've left a message for Marcial Cuevas of Coldwell Banker Real Estate (my former boss at Community Action Agency of New Haven), about getting particulars re: the property that Dave will need. I know that you said the relationship between the community and the current property owner is strained, but if you can put me in touch with the seller's broker, the owner himself, or can provide me with any relevant information, that would be most helpful.

I have attached (below) I letter I sent to the New Haven Register about the Harbor Trail in which I mention the idea of mine we spoke of for the use of "Ducks" (amphibious vehicles), as well as water taxis and ferries that I hope to see ply the waters in and around New Haven for commutation and recreational purposes (with bicycles aboard for those who wish to use them for multi-modal transportation).

I would be most interested to meet with you and Mr. Fitch who owns the marina on the Quinnipiac River on Front Street about these ideas. As I mentioned, I had spoken with Jim Bussmann, co-owner of Seaboard Oil which fronts on the river near Chapel and Ferry Sts., about using his property to dock such boats. Since some of them might be taller than the Grand Avenue (swivel) Bridge, and we want to minimize the interupption of vehicular traffic, Mr. Fitch and Seaboard Oil might want to work on a joint venture.

I also spoke with Kika Matos when she was Executive Director of Junta for Progressive Action about the notion of creating jobs for Fair Haven residents who would serve as captains, crew, and maintenance personnel for these boats. As I mentioned, I worked as a Senior Job Developer in a Welfare-To-Work program at Community Action Agency when Marcial Cuevas was Executive Director, and I founded the Greater New Haven Employment Network, a group of Job Developers who shared job leads with each other.

Having lived in Stony Creek, and having led kayak tours, as well as being a sailor since I was a young boy, I know a lot about boating. I've spoken with the owners of the Volsunga and Sea Mist cruise boats (the Volsunga operator also runs the Thimbles Island Water Taxi Service) operating out of Stony Creek about ferries for commutation and tourism purposes, and they are both interested. I understand from you that Mr. Fitch has been in touch with them as well.

I have copied several people who I think might be interested in these issues, and will copy Kika Matos on this message when I secure her email address tomorrow. By the way, email addresses of city employees are not listed on the municipal website, cityofnewhaven.com, only those of elected officials such as yourself. You may want to remedy this situation.

Here's the letter (below). I look forward to hearing from you and to meeting you again soon.

Regards,

Paul D. Hammer
pauldhammer@yahoo.com
203-927-8467
462 Elm St. in the Elm City
New Haven (or Nueva Havana), CT 06511

To the Editor:

Mary O'Leary writes in today's Register (March 2) about a meeting of the Port Authority regarding a proposed bicycle and pedestrian trail ringing New Haven Harbor.

There has been some concern on the part of business interests at the New Haven Terminal that a bike path would not be compatible with
commercial traffic entering and leaving the Port facility for safety reasons.

In actuality, the proposed trail adjacent to the terminal would be raised using sediment dredged from the Harbor, and fenced in to prevent
interaction between bicyclists, walkers and trucks.

I was quoted in the article as saying that bicycle and pedestrian traffic on the proposed trail would alleviate traffic on the Q Bridge (renamed the Pearl Harbor Memorial Bridge because...it's a disaster!).

In point of fact, I do believe that bikes and hikers might have a small impact, but I made the
point that adding train stations in Stony Creek, East Haven, as well as the proposed stations in West Haven and Orange would make a substantial
difference.

A study of traffic on the bridge over the Quinnipiac River showed that a substantial
portion of the traffic on the bridge emanates from and reverts to East Haven and the Annex.
I also said that water taxis, ferries, and amphibious "Ducks" of the kind used in Boston would make a huge difference if they plied New Haven Harbor as vehicles (pun intended) for commutation and tourism.

However, as far as bicycling is concerned, we cyclists often find that we've left behind a
traffic jam, so perhaps 10mph is the ideal speed for commuting. On top of that, bicycles can be placed on bus racks, vehicles used for car and
vanpooling, and in train vestibules, so it's really multi-modal transportation that is the key to relieving traffic congestion.

In terms of commercial interests, tourism is one of them. A bicycle and pedestrian trail around New Haven Harbor would link up with the Vision
Trails connecting New Haven Harbor with downtown New Haven, the proposed Shoreline Greenway Trail running from Lighthouse Park to Madison, the East Coast Greenway Trail that may someday link Maine to Florida, and to the Farmington Canal Rail-Trail that may someday run from New Haven Harbor or environs to Northampton,Massachusetts, with an existing spur to Amherst.

The Farmington Canal and the rail line which replaced it were both built for commercial purposes, and can now be used for commutation as well as recreation. There are so many sights of interest along these trails, including Fort Nathan Hale adjacent to East Shore Park, where Revolutionary and a Civil War era forts stand.

It would be most appropriate for a web of trails to run in and around New Haven, where Pierre Lallament rode the first modern bicycle in America around the New Haven Green in the , and a
Velodrome graced Lighthouse Park in an era when more people watched bicycle races than they did the national pastime of baseball.

Bicycles were responsible for paving our roads, and for the tires that lie underneath motor vehicles. More bicycles are sold in this country now than are cars. Now is the time to go back to the future, so to speak, and bring fuel-efficient human powered bicycles, along with trains, electric hybrid and natural gas fueled cars and buses, as well as ferries to relieve us of the national nightmare we have created on our highways and byways.

Right now, it's possible to ride a trolley from the Trolley Museum in East Haven to and from Short Beach. Perhaps someday, trolleys will run from Philadelphia to Maine, as they once did.

Paul D. Hammer
Past President, Connecticut Bicycle and Pedestrian Coalition
President, Bicycle Education, Entrepreneurship, and Enrichment Programs
(BEEEP!, Inc.)
462 Elm St. in the Elm City
New Haven, CT 06511
tel. 203-927-8467

Posted by: Paul Hammer | March 8, 2007 11:06 AM

The bicycle and pedestrian trail ringing New Haven Harbor will be anything but pedestrian, in the sense that it will be exciting and stimulating for people riding and walking on the trail, in my view.

However, as far as cycling goes, we are reinventing the wheel, the bicycle wheel which has been such an important part of Connecticut's history.