The grant, one of only 3 awarded to New Jersey trail projects, will be used to build a section of trail that will run from the crossing at Princeton Pike Corporate Center, northwest inside the tree line at the property owned by Bristol-Myers Squibb, to the crossing at Lewisville Road near the rear entrance to The Lawrenceville School.

This LHT application, submitted with help from Mercer County Planning Division, Lawrence Township and Bristol-Myers Squibb, is one of 18 regional trail projects in the Delaware Valley that were approved by the commission. The other two approved trail projects in New Jersey are in Camden County, and the remainder are in Pennsylvania.

Lawrence Township Mayor Greg Puliti said he was very pleased with the news. “I’m grateful to the DVRPC for this award. This is a beautiful piece of land that the trail will run on, one that very few people know about because of its location,” he said. “The trail here gives us a very scenic stretch but also brings our riders and walkers to a safe crossing of Princeton Pike.”

“We are very thankful to Bristol-Myers Squibb for their help with this parcel,” said LHT Co-President Eleanor Horne. “The completion of this section of the LHT means the trail will run almost entirely off road in a continuous stretch from the D&R Canal tow path all the way to the Stony Brook Millstone Watershed.”

The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission is comprised of elected officials and professional planners from nine area counties: Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia in Pennsylvania; and Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and Mercer in New Jersey. The William Penn Foundation is the primary sponsor of the Regional Trails grant program. The program’s aims are to promote a regional network of multi-use trails.  For the LHT, this meant its connection to the Delaware & Raritan Canal tow path and the connections into Lawrenceville and Mercer Meadows County Park were crucial in its application.

“I was very pleased to get the news of this award,” said Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes.  “It is always gratifying when professional planners and elected officials from other municipalities reaffirm the work we are doing and the community connections and support that the LHT has developed.”

Preliminary site plans and easements for the trail segment have already been completed, thanks to a grant from Bristol-Myers Squibb. This “shovel-readiness” and demonstration of community and corporate support was one of the key factors the DVRPC used in determining where to allocate their trail funds.

“As a founder and longtime supporter of the LHT, Bristol-Myers Squibb is delighted by the progress being made on the trail,” said company spokesman Fred Egenolf. Earlier this month BMS completed another segment on its Lawrenceville campus along Province Line Road. “Our congratulations to everyone involved with this project.”

Bidding for the project will be done over the winter with construction expected to begin in the spring of 2012. On this stretch the trail will be 10 feet wide and made of porous pavement.

The Lawrence Hopewell Trail is a nonprofit, community-based organization developing a 22-plus mile safe, family-friendly trail through the Lawrence and Hopewell communities.  72% of the trail is usable now; the remainder is planned for completion in 2012.

The LHT’s board is made up of community leaders, interested citizens and two major area employers. It started in 2002 when a group of community leaders met at Bristol-Myers Squibb to address concerns about diminishing opportunities for safe, off-road biking and walking.  Hopewell and Lawrence Township officials, state and county government representatives and several private organizations including Educational Testing Service, joined the group, and an independent nonprofit organization was formed to build a biking and walking trail.

Check the website for up-to-date information on trail sections and upcoming events: www.lhtrail.org

“This is a big milestone for the LHT and all of our supporters, both public and private, as we have been working on some of these sections for many years,” said LHT Co-president Eleanor Horne. “I am very excited that with the completion of these segments we can offer trail users much better riding and walking opportunities through some very beautiful areas in Mercer County.”

Construction first began this spring with phase I of Carson Road Woods, the section beginning at the small parking lot on Carson Road opposite Bristol-Myers Squibb continuing back about three-quarters of a mile to small stream crossing near the center of the park. This section, made up of crushed stone, was finished at the end of June. The second phase of construction in Carson Road Woods, also three-quarters of a mile, will continue from the stream crossing out to Belleview Terrace. Construction has just begun and is expected to be completed in October.

The second stone dust segment under construction – Mercer Meadows – is the longest at nearly 5 miles, with different phases of the project to continue into 2012. The redesign of Mercer Meadows County Park, formerly known as Mercer Park Northwest, is an ambitious plan that will link Rosedale Park, Curlis Lake and the Pole Farm. Connected via the LHT and various smaller trails, the park will have four distinct sections and amenities celebrating the industrial, agricultural, historical and environmental/ecological areas of the 1,000+ acre park.  The LHT will connect to the Mercer County Equestrian /Master Gardner’s Center as well as the Twin Pines Athletic complex, also currently under construction.

“The Lawrence-Hopewell Trail has been a key component in our vision for Mercer Meadows,” said Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes.  “As one of the founding partners of the Trail, we are pleased that the segment that runs through this important parcel of open space has evolved into the spine trail for the Meadows. We look forward to pedestrians and cyclists utilizing the trail and enjoying all that the park has to offer,” he said.

The third trail section under construction is on the Bristol-Myers Squibb  (BMS) Lawrenceville campus. It runs from the crossing at Carson Road, approximately three-quarters of a mile down to the end of the BMS property near the intersection of Route 206 and Province Line Road. The BMS trail segment doesn’t simply follow the campus perimeter. Instead BMS has designed its porous pavement segment to weave inside its Sycamore tree line, amidst other native vegetation.  Gentle curves and slopes along the trail route will make it a little more challenging and scenic. This section is also expected to be finished by the end of October.

“Getting over that 70% complete mark is also a big step for us psychologically, as a volunteer organization,” added LHT Co-president Becky Taylor. “It will give us the momentum we need as we work toward our goal of completing the trail loop by the end of 2012.”

Completion of the two adjoining sections in Lawrence Township – BMS and Carson Road Woods – means that riders and walkers now have a 4.5 mile trail section running from Province Line Road and Route 206, through the BMS campus, through Carson Road Woods and onto the trail loop at Educational Testing Service, (ETS). Riders and hikers may also be interested in the miles of other more challenging natural trails on the ETS campus that connect to the LHT. Users of this segment should park at ETS.

Other open areas of the trail to ride and hike.

The Historic Brearley House to Princeton Pike Corporate Center and a connection to the D&R Towpath offer a great area to explore. Parking is available.

Trail enthusiasts can also start walking or riding from Lawrenceville’s Main Street (Route 206) to Gordon Lane and then connect with Craven Lane and a beautiful path through Village Park into Mercer Meadows County Park.

Another good walk or ride could start at the Mercer County Equestrian Center on Federal City Road and ride down Old Mill Road (it is closed to cars) and then cross Pennington-Rocky Hill Road and onto the paved trail at BMS-Hopewell campus. This segment runs along the front of the BMS campus to Titus Mill Road. Cross Titus Mill and continue down Wargo Road to the Honey Brook Organic farm and the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed. Parking is available at either end of this segment, at the Equestrian Center or the Stony Brook Millstone Watershed Association.

The Lawrence Hopewell Trail is a nonprofit, community-based organization developing a 22-plus mile safe, family-friendly trail through the Lawrence and Hopewell communities. The LHT’s board is made up of your neighbors, community leaders and two major area employers. It started in 2002 when a group of community leaders met at Bristol-Myers Squibb to address concerns about diminishing opportunities for safe, off-road biking and walking.  Hopewell and Lawrence Township officials, state and county government representatives and several private organizations including Educational Testing Service, joined the group, and an independent nonprofit organization was formed to build a biking and walking trail.

The reddish brown stone dust trail begins at a small parking lot on Carson Road in Lawrence  Township, just opposite the northern edge of Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Lawrenceville campus. The trail follows the woodline at first before turning and going deeper into the park. At present, the trail goes back about three-quarters of a mile. Construction of the remaining LHT segment has begun and is expected to be completed in the fall of 2011.  If you are visiting the park, there are also other hiking trails meandering through the woods, some are wood chip and others are simply mowed or traditional earthen trails.

Construction of the connecting segment across Carson Road at Bristol-Myers Squibb is expected to begin in August, 2011. THis trail segment will wind through the trees away from the road along the border of Bristol-Myers Squibb until the end of their property near Province Line Road and Route 206.

Get outside and ride the trail!

The route will weave its way inside the trees that border the property and feature some undulations and curves, said John Murray, the BMS director of  facilities operatoins and LHT board member. “We didn’t want to build a route that was pancake flat and straight so we put is some curves and terrain changes. We think riders will have fun on this section,” he said.

COnstruction is expected to begin later this spring and take approximately 6-8 weeks, he said.

Last month’s decision caps eight years of discussions with neighborhood organizations about the details and location of the trail. A 186-acre public park owned by Lawrence Township, Carson Road Woods Park is one of the most beautiful sites in Lawrence Township.  “Once the LHT is completed, Carson Road Woods will become an even more cherished Township asset because of its balanced approach to providing access to open space and environmental sensitivity,” explained Eleanor Horne, a Lawrenceville resident and co-president of the LHT.

The trail project, including the segment through Carson Road Woods, also follows the priorities of the township’s master plan for open space and recreational trails, which was endorsed by the planning board in 1999. Measuring about 1.5 miles through the existing park and public roadways, the Carson Road Woods-Mya Drive the section connects trail segments between Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) and Educational Testing Service (ETS).

At the council meeting, Ms. Horne presented data from a 2005 New Jersey Department of Transportation study that used census data and trail use statistics from existing trails to support the concept of the LHT and its connections with many different aspects of the community. The study noted that the many destinations along or near the trail will add to its appeal and increase potential use. These destinations include BMS, ETS, Lawrenceville Main Street, schools, and public recreation and natural areas such as Village Park ,Carson Road Woods, Mercer Meadows, and the Stony Brook Millstone Watershed. Approximately two-thirds of the LHT is located within census tracks where the bicycle travel demand is high, according to the report.

“We are very grateful for the support of the Lawrence Township Council , the Township Administrator Rich Krawczun and Township Engineer Jim Parvesse, now and over the years ,” said Eleanor Horne, a Lawrenceville resident and co-president of the LHT.  “But this does not mean we have stopped communicating with our neighbors on the trail. We look forward to continuing to work with the Friends of Carson Road Woods and the Rosedale Acres homeowners’ association as we move toward completing the main portions of this trail loop by 2012.”

The vote was 3-0, with Mayor Greg Puliti and Council Members Michael Powers and Jim Kownacki voting to approve the plan for the eight-foot wide trail which will be reddish colored stone dust. In environmentally sensitive areas the trail may be reduced to six feet wide.  Council Member Pam Mount abstained because she is a member of the LHT Board of Trustees; Council Member Bob Bostock, who announced his strong support of the trail at a council meeting two weeks previously, was out of town on business and unable to attend.

“The goal of the Lawrence Hopewell Trail is to create a loop that will connect neighborhoods, employers, schools, athletic fields and business districts in Lawrence and Hopewell townships,” Ms. Horne told the council. “And through this trail, we will offer area residents access to open space, an opportunity for safe, family recreation, increase connections in our community and help alleviate congestion on our roadways by offering an alternative to car travel for short commutes. “

Thanks to a grant from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, construction will begin soon on a section of trail in the park.  Funds for design and construction of the remaining trail through the park have yet to be raised.

The Lawrence-Hopewell Trail Corporation is a non-profit organization, run by area volunteers.  The trail follows a loop of about 22 miles connecting the two townships and is more than 60% complete with additional sections accessible but not paved or signed yet. In Lawrence it links Educational Testing Service, Carson Road Woods Park, Bristol-Myers Squibb and the Dyson Tract Park with the D&R Canal, the Brearley House, and the Brandywine Office Complex on Princeton Pike . The trail then moves north to The Lawrenceville School, Lawrenceville’s Main Street and Village Park before connecting with Mercer County Park NW, now re-named Mercer Meadows, in southern Hopewell Township. An online map and more information is available at www.lhtrail.org

The Lawrence Hopewell Trail is on the move and over 60% complete and accessible now. Our goal is to have the main trail loop linking Lawrence and Hopewell Townships completed by 2012, our 10th anniversary.  The trail offers safe, off-road access for kids, families, bicyclists, joggers, hikers and commuters who want to enjoy the great outdoors.  The family-oriented trail belongs to all of us and is designed to promote recreation, healthier lifestyles, better mobility and commuting, and a cleaner environment.  Hundreds of your neighbors support the trail and we hope you will too.  The trail is a community asset; we want you and your family to use and enjoy it!

COMMON QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FOR THE LHT.

Who is the LHT?

The LHT is made up of your neighbors, community leaders and two major area employers. It started in 2001 when a group of community leaders met at Bristol-Myers Squibb to address concerns about diminishing opportunities for safe, off-road biking and walking.  State, county and local government representatives and several private organizations including ETS, joined the group, and an independent nonprofit organization was formed to investigate the possibility of constructing a biking and walking trail.  This unique collaboration of government, business, the non-profit sector, and residents developed a strategic plan to construct and maintain the LHT.

What are the main features of the trail?

• Safe, family-friendly, and handicapped accessible.
• A connection to local businesses, communities and neighborhoods that were previously isolated by heavily trafficked roads.
• Access to taxpayer funded open space that was previously inaccessible.
• A much-needed passive, health and recreation opportunity for children, families, walkers, cyclists, commuters and naturalists.
• A community amenity that will benefit the entire region for decades to come.
• A linchpin for other existing area trails, such as the D & R Canal, the East Coast Greenway as well as shorter local paths, links and connectors.
• A safe, off-road connection to schools and playing fields for children, students and parents.

Where does the trail go?

It’s one big loop of approximately 22 miles that ties much of Lawrence and Hopewell townships together. The trail also allows users a pathway to connect to other more extensive trail networks, such as the D&R Canal towpath, that run throughout Mercer County and beyond.  Our trail map gives you a good idea of the general route.

Is the trail finished yet?

No, but over half of it is now open and walkable and rideable.  Below is a list of trail segments that you can use now. They are often beautiful scenic areas through parks and preserved areas.  Our goal is to have the main trail loop complete by 2012.

Which parts are open?

• Brearley House Connector
• Brandywine – office complex on Princeton Pike anda connection to the D&R Towpath
• Lewisville Road – to Lawrenceville School – on road at present
• The Lawrenceville School – through campus to Re 206 crossing
• Craven Lane, Lawrenceville
• Lawrence Village Park – Paved trail from Yeger Drive to the corner of Gordon Lane and Main Street (Route 206).
• Keefe Road Segment – Paved segment links Village Park with the County’s Northwest and Rosedale Parks.
• Educational Testing Service – Paved trail through the park-like campus off of Rosedale Road.
• Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed, Wargo Road
• Pennington-Rocky Hill Road, Rosedale, Mercer Park NW –  Hopewell – Paved trail on the Bristol-Myers Squibb campus runs between Old Mill Road & Titus Mill Road. Then Old Mill Road leads to Rosedale Park, which connects to Mercer Park Northwest. This section is not paved but is mowed and signed and easily walkable and bikeable. There are many existing roads through the park that are accessible now and Mercer County expects to finish work on the park and trails by the end of this year.

Who can use the trail?

Everybody.  It is free to use.  The LHT is a nonprofit, community-based organization charged with overseeing the development of the trail, and it is open to all bicyclists, skateboarders, joggers and other pedestrians.

Why should I support the trail?

In a community of older, narrow or heavily trafficked roads, it is a badly needed community asset. Three main reasons are below.

RECREATION and OPEN SPACE ACCESS  The Trail will provide an opportunity for recreation, health and fitness as well as access to preserved Open Space lands that we have a  all paid to protect but have previously been inaccessible.

LINKS TO NEIGHBORHOODS FOR KIDS AND PARENTS- Neighborhoods are cut off by busy or narrow roads that are unsafe for children and parents to bike or walk. The LHT will not only provide recreation opportunities, it also offers a safe, off-road way to travel or commute. Along the route are major area employers, Princeton Pike/Brandywine office complex and the D&R Canal towpath, which can take you to Market Fair or Quaker Bridge Mall, all without going on Route 1.

LINKS TO COMMUNITIES FEATURES AND EMPLOYERS — Also planned are links with Hopewell Borough, Pennington Borough and Twin Pines Recreation fields.

In addition, trails are also known to raise property values since they are considered a desirable public amenity and can reduce traffic congestion.  We know from other communities that have built similar trails that they contribute to an increase in property values.

Are motorcycles, golf carts or horses allowed on the trail?

No. Except for emergency vehicles, the off-road parts of the trail are not designed to safely accommodate motorized traffic. But it is handicapped accessible.

What about pets?

Absolutely!  All we ask is that you respect others and keep your animal leashed and curbed.  Please clean up any waste.

It seems it is taking a long time to build the trail.  Why is that so?

The trail will run more than 22 miles, which is a lot of ground to cover, so it really hasn’t taken long when you consider that the trail goes through property owned by the state, Mercer County, Hopewell and Lawrence Townships, and private property. Much is already done and we are aiming to cover a lot more ground this year. We also want to make sure we have the best route possible and that we are working cooperatively with those who are neighbors to the trail.  We also make every effort to minimize the impact of the trail on the plants and animals that live near it.  We want to move quickly but we also want it done right.

Who actually pays to build the trail?

We are fortunate that two local companies in our area, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Educational Testing Service (ETS), have generously donated time and money to the project.  Financial support also comes from Mercer County and Lawrence and Hopewell Townships.  Grant moneys have been secured from the State of New Jersey Departments of Environmental Protection and Transportation.  Many of your neighbors have made personal, tax-deductable financial contributions to help the trail.  There are also other trail partners who donate services and staff resources such as: D&R Greenway Land Trust, Lawrenceville School, Lawrenceville Main Street, St. Lawrence Rehabilitation Center and the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association.

The request before the Hopewell Township Committee is to use the funding available through the Open Space Levy to finance construction of three sections of trail for which no other funding is available. This request will not directly impact your tax bill as it amount to approximately $40,000 per year for about 20 years according to our estimates. The Open Space Levy that was passed  two years ago specifically included language to help with trail design and construction.

How much will it cost to finish the trail?

Depending on environmental requirements and the final routing, it could cost anywhere between $7 million to $/9 million, which is not out of the ordinary for a trail of this length.  We are continuously seeking financial help and welcome any size contribution.

How can I support the trail?

• Promote LHT – Talk us up with family and friends
• Plan LHT – Contact us with ideas
• Support LHT – Donate money or services
• Advocate LHT – Tell elected officials you support LHT
• Enjoy LHT – Use the Trail and encourage others to do so

How do I contact the trail?

Visit our Website at www.lhtrail.org; email us at info@lhtrail.org; or call us at 609-734-5254.

At Monday night’s Hopewell Township Committee meeting Becky Taylor asked the Committee to support completion of the Lawrence Hopewell Trail (LHT) by 2012, through the use of funds approved in a public referendum in 2009. The specific request is for the three sections in Hopewell for which no other funding is available. The LHT, which will offer bicyclists, runners, walkers and hikers over 20 miles of safe, mostly off-road trail in Hopewell and Lawrence Townships, is currently 60% complete and accessible. The LHT has a goal of  100% completion of its primary trail loop by the end of 2012.

“From the very beginning 10 years ago, we envisioned the LHT as a community asset that would enable people from all walks of life to get safe, outdoor recreation while enjoying the natural beauty and features of our towns,” said Taylor, co-President and LHT founder. “In two years, we want families, kids and student-athletes to be able to walk or ride their bikes between schools and playing fields, commuters to ride their bikes to places of employment, and families to enjoy outings on the LHT.”

Deputy Mayor, Michael Markulec was also supportive. “We passed by a referendum, the one cent tax for open space, farmland preservation and trails. The LHT is the perfect usage for this type of funding,” said Markulec who is also the township’s representative on the LHT board.

The LHT loop traces a rough circle from Mercer County Park NW in the south of Hopewell Township northward toward Pennington-Rocky Hill Road and eventually turns to link with the Lawrence Township portion near the Educational Testing Service (an online map is available at www.lhtrail.org). Mercer County expects to complete major sections of the LHT in Mercer County Park NW and Rosedale Park late this year, leaving only three segments to close the loop in Hopewell Township.

The LHT Corporation is a unique not-for-profit organization that includes companies, municipal and county governments, other not-for-profit organizations and volunteers as its members. Co-President Taylor noted that most of the resources for trail construction to date have come from corporate, state and county grants and individual donations. The request Taylor submitted to the Hopewell Township Committee seeks funds from the Hopewell Township Open Space Levy, which, as a result of a 2009 public referendum, specifically provides funds for recreational trail construction and maintenance.

“If Hopewell Township approves this request and finances it as they have previous open space projects, with a small ‘down payment,’ they will help create an asset that will pay dividends to our community for decades to come.”

Taylor noted that the LHT Board has committed itself to help fight the trend toward obesity, particularly among children, through safe, healthy outdoor exercise.

“We also hope the Township Committee recognizes that this project is distinctly different than other open space projects, as it provides residents access to many hundreds of acres of preserved land paid for with taxpayer dollars,” Taylor continued.  “That is consistent with state policy, county policy and the Hopewell Township Master Plan, and we think it just makes common sense.”

If approved by the Hopewell Township Committee, the $850,000 request would become part of the Township capital budget, financed primarily through long-term borrowing, as is typical for long-lived capital projects. The LHT has noted that making the funds available provides a stable source of funding that will make construction more efficient and cost-effective.

Press Release: 7 pm January 24, 2011

The entire cost of the planned safety improvements is covered by a $275,000 grant from the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT). 

Awarded by the State last year, the grant is earmarked for LHT bicycle-pedestrian road crossings as well as some trail development on the Hillman Preserve in Hopewell Township, which is owned by the D&R Greenway Land Trust. 

“We are so grateful to NJDOT and the Township of Hopewell,” said LHT Co-President Becky Taylor, a Hopewell Township resident.  “NJDOT, through the Office of Bicycle and Pedestrian Programs coordinated by Sheree Davis, has provided us with invaluable guidance since the very inception of the LHT.”

Specific projects to be accomplished include a safe crosswalk over Pennington-Rocky Hill Road and another at Bailey Drive. Significant signage and pedestrian-activated lighting to warn oncoming motorists when the crosswalk is in use are also being installed.

“Piece by piece, the LHT is falling into place,” said LHT Co-President Eleanor V. Horne. “The cooperation we have received from Hopewell Township Mayor Mike Markulec and the other members of the Town Committee has been outstanding.  They, and Township Administrator/Engineer Paul Pogorzelski, are largely responsible for our success in pursuing this grant and getting this construction underway.”

Taylor and Horne noted work at Pennington-Rocky Hill and Bailey Drive is slated to start the week of May 24. They said the new crosswalks and features should take about six weeks to complete.

“The contractor is telling us that roads will remain open,” Taylor said. “They will be slowing the traffic and opening only one lane during certain stages of construction.  Traffic will be directed around the work at times so we are asking motorists to be especially cautious so the crews can remain safe and finish their jobs as quickly as possible.”

The LHT will be a 20+ mile loop through Lawrence and Hopewell Townships when it is completed in 2012. Nearly 60% of the LHT is now accessible and users can travel from the D&R Canal Towpath in Lawrence Township to Hopewell Township using existing trail.

“Other safe crossings in Hopewell Township are scheduled to be worked on this summer too,” said Horne. “Another crossing over Pennington-Rocky Hill near Old Mill Road and one at Titus Mill and Wargo Roads will be constructed as soon as designs are finalized.”

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“We worked to create a better, more user-friendly internet site that will help residents find their way around the LHT with greater ease,” said Eleanor V. Horne, LHT Co-President.  “LHT users can now enjoy interactive features, detailed information and route maps at the new website,” said Becky Taylor, LHT Co-President.  “It offers specific, high-resolution mapping and guidance to help maximize trail experiences.”

According to Horne and Taylor, bicyclists and pedestrians can locate coordinates, directions, parking, rest-rooms, restaurants, scenic distinctions and other points of interest along the LHT route.  They can also discover the best ways to commute to school or work.

“We believe the new LHT website is simple to navigate and loaded with the tools individuals and families will need to get the most out of the trail,” said Horne.  “It’s an exciting time for us,” said Taylor.  “As the LHT grows, we need to maximize access for the public and our new website goes a long way toward meeting that goal.”

Visit the LHT at www.lhtrail.org