Waterditch Trail Phase 2: The Conversation Begins
The Historic Water Ditch Trail project aims to build 6.5 miles of bike trails along the 110 year old flume line trail system from South Tacoma Way to the Tacoma Dome. The City of Tacoma broke ground on the project in 2008. Phase One of the project included rebuilding and improving two miles of the historic trail to create a Class 1 bike path from South 43rd to South 56th Streets. Additional segments would then be completed as funding became available. The conversation and designs are now underway for Phase Two, which will include segments from South 76th Street to South Tacoma Way.
The TNT yesterday covered the City’s plans for phase two of the Waterditch bike trail, and gave significant coverage to concerns from residents of the area, who are concerned about public safety. We heard the residents quoted speak at Citizens’ Forum recently, and they seem to have the best interests of their neighbors at heart. But we have to wonder, are their concerns valid and well-founded, or will bringing more traffic and better lighting through the now overgrown, underused trail actually result in a safer environment, rather than a more dangerous one?
Some would argue that having more eyes on the street should make the neighborhood safer, and scare off the unwanted elements. Does this theory ring true in this case?
Read more from The News Tribune, or visit the Waterditch Trail project page.
Filed under: Transportation, Walkable Tacoma, Biking, City Projects, Water Ditch Trail
5 comments
T tacoma_1 June 14, 2012
The writer chose to do a very negative story on the trail. She interviewed a couple of residents with bad story’s and didn’t do any research on what happened in other communities when similar trails went in.
How hard would it have been for the writer to look at crime rates in Bothell before and after the Burke Gillman trail went in?
The TNT is becoming a very shoddy and worthless paper.
T talus June 14, 2012
Anyone who’s ever lived by a bike trail knows they’re good for the community. The TNT sucks.
B Banya June 17, 2012
Agreed with others, the TNT article is negative. Trail development is a good thing that should improve safety in area. Criminals hide. Opening up the trail will improve the neighborhood and make for a great bike ride!
P Planet Partner June 17, 2012
The people who spoke at the Citizen Forum are the same people quoted in the TNT and are the only people (over and over, and loudly) hot on this topic. I’ve heard these same few folks, time and time again, at the Neighborhood Council meetings, too, but their supposed “crime” concerns just don’t ring true…
P Paul White June 20, 2012
If this trail is built we need to figure out a way to keep dogs from urinating in the water ditch. That is the last thing I need! Effectively we will be replacing crime with “dog urine water”. I makes me sick to think about it. We will go from “Perrier” to “Terrier”.