Working with the Clark County-Springfield Transportation Coordinating Committee (CCSTCC), in cooperation with the Clark County Park District (CCPD), B&N performed a preliminary study of the Mad River Trail connection from the existing trail network west of Springfield through the Mad River Gorge Park and George Rogers Clark Park. The 6-mile trail extension will provide the start of a connection between the existing Buck Creek Trail and the Springfield trail network to the City of Dayton trail network. The project corridor was divided into three project segments, with several potential alternatives identified for each segment. The alternatives ranged from a separate trail facility, a cycle track, and on-street bike facilities. Enhanced roadway crossings were identified to accommodate the trail crossing at public streets.
As part of the study, B&N led three stakeholder coordination meetings with ODOT District 7, the Clark County Park District, the City of Springfield, the National Trail Parks and Recreation District, and several local stakeholders. The coordination included brainstorming potential trail alignments, identifying opportunities and challenges in the corridor, establishing project goals, and determining preferred trail options and next steps. A final memo detailed each studied alternative, stakeholder feedback and a phased solution to break the trail into smaller pieces to facilitate the funding and construction of the trail.
At the completion of the initial study, CCPD selected B&N to perform further study and design of the Mad River Trail Phase I connection. This one-mile portion of trail will complete a connection between Mill Run Road and the Mad River Gorge & Nature Preserve recreational area. The Mad River Gorge & Nature Preserve features a series of cliff faces that have gained national popularity for climbing. The existing rail bed, adjacent to Mad River, also provides visitors with a scenic, heavily wooded walking trail to the gorge. The gorge is only currently accessible by two sets of stairs at an adjacent parking lot. The base of the cliff faces is not accessible to EMS or park maintenance staff. Taking advantage of previously purchased railroad right-of-way, CCPD identified the trail connection for the first phase of study and design to provide pedestrian, bicycle, and American Disabilities Act (ADA) access to the gorge area.
B&N performed a feasibility study of the trail, identifying two alternatives that assessed culvert and bridge impacts, accessibility, environmental impacts, impacts to trees, and preliminary cost estimates. With portions of the trail falling within the flood plain and flood way for Mad River, initial assessments to flood plain impacts were provided. A stone masonry structure constructed with the rail line was inspected to determine condition and potential rehabilitation needs. The recommended alternative was selected at the completion of the study, with inspection and analysis efforts identifying design scope elements and refined the overall design efforts to keep designer effort economical.
The design of the trail is currently underway.