Supervisors, trails council discuss site of trail section

The Jefferson County Trails Council is opposed to a share-the-road trail as a solution to resistance from Gear Avenue residents.

?We don?t like shared roadways,? trails council president Ron Blair told the Jefferson County Board of Supervisors Monday. ?It?s not good. It?s not safe.?

The council views the option as a last resort ? one that?s only been undertaken in other sections of the Fairfield Loop Trail due to lack of funds.

?Safety is the critical factor here,? Blair said.

The city has applied for use of the county?s right-of-way to construct an 8-foot wide recreational trail along the north side of Gear Avenue from 12th Street to Ninth Street. Jerry and Sharron Main, also citing safety concerns, have requested the application be denied.

Since the board last discussed the issue, Jefferson County Engineer Tom Goff measured the roadway and determined it would be wide enough to accommodate traffic in both directions, as well as bike lanes. The trails council isn?t satisfied with the suggested compromise.

For the complete article, see the Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2010, printed edition of The Fairfield Ledger.