Supporters closer to funding pedestrian, cyclist bridge

Beavercreek Bikeway group has already raised about $2.4 million of the $3 million needed.

Bill Beecroft and Roger Brislawn, members of the Beavercreek Bikeway Advisory Committee, hold a concept drawing of the bridge for pedestrians and cyclists they want to see built just south of the North Fairfield Road overpass of Interstate 675.

Christopher Magan/Staff photo Bill Beecroft and Roger Brislawn, members of the Beavercreek Bikeway Advisory Committee, hold a concept drawing of the bridge for pedestrians and cyclists they want to see built just south of the North Fairfield Road overpass of Interstate 675.

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By Christopher Magan, Staff Writer Updated 9:12 AM Thursday, May 7, 2009

BEAVERCREEK — Supporters of a bridge for pedestrians and cyclists over Interstate 675 are asking possible financial backers of the project to reaffirm their support as they begin to close the funding gap.

Roger Brislawn and Bill Beecroft, members of the Beavercreek Bikeway Advisory Committee, already have raised about $2.4 million of the $3 million needed to build the bridge they say will greatly increase safety for riders and walkers around The Mall at Fairfield Commons and Wright State University.

Now, the only way to cross between Beavercreek and Fairborn without a automobile is over the North Fairfield Road Bridge, which has little to no room for walkers and cyclists.

“Fifty thousand people show up to work there each day and the only way to get across is to drive,” Beecroft told county commissioners last month.

The commissioners, like Wright State, Clark State and the Beavercreek city council, said they would maintain their support for the bike bridge, but that tough economic times have tightened every agency’s budget.

“We’ll honor our obligation, but some things are beyond our control,” Commissioner Rick Perales said.

Beecroft and Brislawn have already secured $2.4 million in Federal Highway Administration grants through the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission.

The county, Fairborn, Beavercreek and two colleges are being asked to put in a combined $300,000 and Beavercreek officials are working to secure more grants to raise the remaining $302,000.

“The city remains very solidly behind this project,” said Beavercreek City Manager Michael Cornell.

In coming weeks, Brislawn and Beecroft hope to get the same reassurance of support from Fairborn city council members, who also said they backed the project last year, but did not pledge fiscal support.

Pete Bales, Fairborn parks and recreation director, said he will discuss the project with council later this month in a work session.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2342 or cmagan@DaytonDailyNews.com.

“The city remains very solidly behind this (bike bridge) project.”

Michael Cornell

Beavercreek city manager

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Currently the only safe way to cross I-675 between Fairborn and Beavercreek is to get in a car and drive. I-675 is a barrier. Tens of thousands of students, workers, shoppers and visitors come into this zone each workday. (Wright State alone has some 18,000 students and staff). The proposed bridge fills a long-standing need and corrects a major design flaw, which occurred when I-675 was built without regard for the needs of pedestrians, cyclists and the handicapped.

Bill Beecroft
2:40 PM, 5/11/2009

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Bikeway to where? Neither the City or County has a sidewalk or bikelane plan to follow this through. There simply are no SIDEWALKS. Would 10 people per day use this bridge? It's another porkbarrel project for Bob Mill's Pentagon pork, which is already heavily subsidized by grants under the auspices of job creation. Public funding used to promote private development.

Fred
5:23 AM, 5/8/2009

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