Projects Review

The next project after the Sanders Ferry Greenway that Hendersonville Planning Department had considered was the Saundersville Greenway connecting of the Sumner County Library to the Sumner County Greenway. Like the Sanders Ferry Greenway, the Saundersville project was a "no-brainer."

In 2016, Fred Rogers applied for a CMAQ Grant. Here is his proposal.

In December 2016, Bruce Day, Tom Evans, David Shumaker, and Brian Wray reviewed Rogers route and, in their opinion, was unfeasible. Also, the City did not receive this grant.

They submitted their analysis to Mayor Clary. Here is their Letter , survey, and video of their survey.

The decision was the City needed to focus on achieving the Sanders Ferry Greenway, which required another seven years to happen.

Day and Evans attempted to make the CMAQ proposal work (read here), but still it was not workable in 2017 and even in 2023 to be even less potential.

Day and Evans had another route option but, with the City's decision not to pursue the project until the completion of the Sanders Ferry Greenway, they did not survey the following most likely route.(orange line shown below).

Two-thirds of the route is on the power-line easements, not on personal and HOA property, and safe, not near auto-traffic.

Next Bike/Ped Project

David, Brian, Joey, and Tom:

As we approach the completion of the Sanders Ferry greenway, I am starting to think of our next bike/ped project. Can you join me and Timothy Whitten to discuss this on October 19 at 9:00 at City Hall?

Tom, can you invite Bruce Day to join us?

Thank you.
Jamie Clary
Mayor of Hendersonville, Tennessee

16^th Best City in the U.S.

GENERAL COMMENTS

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Where to Run Saundersville Greenway

With the completion of the Station Camp Greenway connection to Canons Crossing in Hendersonville, it is now the job of Hendersonville to connect it to the greenway accessing Hendersonville Public Library. Hendersonville's Bike/Ped Committee (retired 2019) has started its physical review of options for that trail.  Three options listed below are the initial locations for that trail.  However, as the physical survey progresses, the Committee anticipates additional options will become apparent.  Interested in contributing to this recommendation?  Submit a comment.

Here are the preliminary DRAFT routes (in no particular order):

• https://ridewithgps.com/routes/27841467 (tag = 180618)

• https://drive.google.com/open?id=1TFQoAl9vqF97zfkDLHvEq9FBnoaE05kL (tag = 180619)

• https://ridewithgps.com/routes/27857094 (tag = 180621)

OTHER:

Mayor Clary has asked for suggestions for the routing on the Saundersville Greenway from the Library to Millstone.  Our initial consideration is to try to find something that was mostly off-road. Although we have discussed using subdivision roads as a possibility, we thought to try to find a way to avoid roads as much as possible.

Another issue is a trail option crossing 386 and the huge traffic problem around Winston Hills Pkwy. This area awaits resolution (with CSX railroad) and a method that would permit safe transit for pedestrians and bicyclists.

The Committee walked the EAST side of Saundersville Rd last year (2106 CMAQ Grant application) and found the construction of a greenway on that side likely to be very expensive due to landscaping costs and pre-built environment.  Consequently, on initial physical surveys, we shall stay on the WEST side of Saundersville Road or away from the NEAR east-edge of Saundersville road.

The mayor asked for ideas “from the library to Millstone,” but with the eventual goal to connect up with the Station Camp Greenway terminus at Canons Crossing.  We shall sketch what “might work” all the way to Canons Crossing.

Safety Issues - June 2017

GREENWAYS (Safety Issues)

Hendersonville

• The worsening safety problem on the geo-tube - See Brian Wray’s review, which you will find posted on our website.  GreenwayImprove
•  Bruce Day has also brought the following problem. Gateway on the Drakes Creek Greenway.  The issue is most bicyclists will attempt the turn without dismounting and in the process many run into these obstacles.

Lower Station Camp

• David Hardin – What are the plans to provide SAFE crossing of the Greenway Trail over Bison Road?  With several roads converging on the most likely crossing it is likely to be a danger.  David has asked but no one has offered an answer.

NEW SHACKLE ROAD  (David Hardin) Section of road completed with Wide Outside Lanes and side paths

• Signed for “Share the Road”, but current 40-mph speed limit too fast. Too many egresses are even hazardous for auto traffic at current speed limits (We have witnessed several near collisions as cars speed down from bridge over 386.). This entire section of road is not suitable for bicycle use, need to stay on side-path

FOREST RETREAT ROAD (David Hardin) (between Glen Oaks SC and Hunt Lane)

• Road in bad need of repair not suitable for current heavy traffic. 
• Issue: Why wasn’t the Shopping Center developers required to improve this road and what do we need to do to mitigate such problems in the future?

Open Issues - May 2017

OPEN Issues are:

• Sumner County Greenway connection to Cannons Crossing
• Progress on Walker Collaborate Report to Sumner County
• Relook at potential routes for Hendersonville Greenway to Cannons Crossing
• Forest Retreat and Hunt Lane Improvements
• Wessington Road repaving with bike lanes (and fixed drain grates).
• And OF COURSE what’s happening with Sanders Ferry Greenway

Legislative Update

      I’m sure you’ve been waiting breathlessly so I wrote a summary of this year’s session of the General Assembly. It’s not very elegant but hopefully it’s informative.

      Next year Haslam may ask for an increase in the gas tax. That could be the most important turning point in dealing with transportation in Tennessee in a generation. The issue of dedicated funding for mass transit will be part of the discussion. I’m afraid that the idea of restricting it’s use for biking facilities will also reappear. The current distribution of gas tax revenues to local cities and counties screws the urban areas. Changing that formula should be part of the input from our city government. When and if the increase is implemented (I don’t have much faith in Haslam) we should demand that Nashville use it for transit, biking and walking. No new $ for cars.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B-M5wsIALOkQcndrVnVLeXFQVG8 

Carey Rogers, Walk/Bike Nashville

Opinions stated here, of course, are my own.