Officials Put Brakes On Proposed Rail To Trail Project In Bucks County
NORTHAMPTON TOWNSHIP, Pa. (CBS) -- A proposed bike trail connecting Montgomery and Bucks Counties has been hung up by a small but determined group of residents in Northampton Township.
Ken Boyle, chair of Bike Bucks County, says the Newtown Rail Trail has received widespread support from Northampton residents. But those living adjacent to the old overgrown tracks are fiercely opposed -- a classic case of not in my backyard.
"They have voiced quite a few concerns around stranger danger and having people who are not from their immediate neighborhood coming into their area," Boyle said.
The 8-mile trail would start along the County line in Upper Southampton and go through four other Bucks townships. Northampton is the next one over, so if the Nimbies there are successful, Boyle says the rest of the trail covering about six miles will effectively be blocked.
"They're concerned and I think they should be concerned," he said. "They should want to know what the details are. It's gonna be near their homes and hear their families. But they've been against doing anything."
The trail would run along SEPTA's old Fox Chase - Newtown tracks.
Township supervisors must approve an engineering and design study before tackling a resolution of support on the overall project.
Four Townships have approved it-- Newtown borough, Newtown Township, Middletown Township and upper Southampton.
Northampton is the lone holdout. It hasn't even voted yet.
