Mayor Puts an End to the Rail Trail Debate

Mayor Jay Gillian told City Council and the public Thursday night that his administration "will not explore the rail-trail concept any further."

The announcement effectively ends a years-long debate over a proposal to build a bicycle trail on a stretch of abandoned railroad bed that crosses wetlands between 36th and 49th streets. It also signals the start of making a safe bicycle route that runs the length of the island a reality.

The city received from an of the proposed route last week. The report includes an assessment of the proposed wetlands rail trail, which could connect on-road sections of the larger bicycle route.

The report suggests the process of creating a rail trail would be long and costly, and it makes no guarantee that Ocean City would be able to secure all the necessary environmental permits. The report also suggests a plan for changing the county-owned West Avenue from four lanes of traffic to two lanes -- with parked cars and a buffer zone separating a bicycle lane.

"The report has done an adequate job of assessing the issues surrounding its possible conversion to a bike trail," Gillian said. "The goal is to establish a safe way to bicycle in this part of town. That was always the only goal. The report provides ways to accomplish that goal by reconfiguring traffic patterns on West Avenue."

Gillian went on to say:

"The West Avenue options have no environmental issues or impacts. The wetlands options have significant environmental impacts. Because there are ways to accomplish our goal of safe biking that have no environmental impacts, it is impossible for me to envision ever obtaining the variety of state and federal permits that would be required to pursue the rail-trail concept.

Therefore, the administration will not explore the rail-trail concept an further. To do otherwise will only distract us from pursuing the improvements that are practical and achievable. We'll work in partnership with the county to make the changes to West Avenue that will provide significant safety improvements for cars, bikes and pedestrians."

Gillian noted that the city is to establish a safe crossing of Ninth Street for bicyclists (through the use of a user-activated traffic signal) and to improve the bke path behind the Ocean City Primary School. The city will also improve Simpson Avenue between Battersea Road and Fifth Street as part of the proposed route.

Business Administrator Mike Dattilo said the city plans a Nov. 1 meeting with the Simpson Avenue neighborhood to discuss the changes.