Comments on: West Oakland County’s “Missing Link” Trail http://www.m-bike.org/blog/2008/09/13/west-oakland-countys-missing-link-trail/ Promoting non-motorized transportation in the Motor City Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:03:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Michigan Air Line Trail in the News | m-bike.org http://www.m-bike.org/blog/2008/09/13/west-oakland-countys-missing-link-trail/comment-page-1/#comment-1162 Michigan Air Line Trail in the News | m-bike.org Sat, 10 Jan 2009 11:05:11 +0000 http://www.m-bike.org/blog/?p=490#comment-1162 [...] we’ve mentioned earlier, this would be a hugely critical and popular trail connection.  We also noted last month that West Bloomfield was recommended to receive grant money to purchase [...] [...] we’ve mentioned earlier, this would be a hugely critical and popular trail connection.  We also noted last month that West Bloomfield was recommended to receive grant money to purchase [...]

]]> By: Trust Fund Grants for Metro Detroit | m-bike.org http://www.m-bike.org/blog/2008/09/13/west-oakland-countys-missing-link-trail/comment-page-1/#comment-1074 Trust Fund Grants for Metro Detroit | m-bike.org Tue, 16 Dec 2008 22:22:49 +0000 http://www.m-bike.org/blog/?p=490#comment-1074 [...] Michigan Air-Line Railway (West Bloomfield), $1,452,500. This project will acquire approximately 17 acres, or 2.5 miles, of railway corridor that connects the existing West Bloomfield trail west to Haggery Road.  This is great news for a trail project we discussed earlier. [...] [...] Michigan Air-Line Railway (West Bloomfield), $1,452,500. This project will acquire approximately 17 acres, or 2.5 miles, of railway corridor that connects the existing West Bloomfield trail west to Haggery Road.  This is great news for a trail project we discussed earlier. [...]

]]> By: Todd Scott http://www.m-bike.org/blog/2008/09/13/west-oakland-countys-missing-link-trail/comment-page-1/#comment-818 Todd Scott Fri, 17 Oct 2008 22:35:26 +0000 http://www.m-bike.org/blog/?p=490#comment-818 I just heard about a potential major set back on the purchase of the West Bloomfield trail portion. I'll post more as it becomes confirmed. It's never easy... I just heard about a potential major set back on the purchase of the West Bloomfield trail portion. I’ll post more as it becomes confirmed. It’s never easy…

]]> By: Fred http://www.m-bike.org/blog/2008/09/13/west-oakland-countys-missing-link-trail/comment-page-1/#comment-809 Fred Tue, 14 Oct 2008 16:05:12 +0000 http://www.m-bike.org/blog/?p=490#comment-809 There are other missing links in the Airline Trail, most notably in Green Oak Twp. A section of the Airline corridor has gone into private ownership west of Dixboro Rd. Back in '03 or '04 there was a group in Green Oak pursuing an alternate trail corridor utilizing roadways and other routes from Dixboro Rd. across US-23 and on to Hamburg, for a connection to the Lakelands Trail. I've not seen any recent efforts, but certainly with the potential of the COE Railroad becoming a completed link of the Airline Rail corridor, renewed efforts in Green Oak are possible There are other missing links in the Airline Trail, most notably in Green Oak Twp. A section of the Airline corridor has gone into private ownership west of Dixboro Rd. Back in ’03 or ’04 there was a group in Green Oak pursuing an alternate trail corridor utilizing roadways and other routes from Dixboro Rd. across US-23 and on to Hamburg, for a connection to the Lakelands Trail. I’ve not seen any recent efforts, but certainly with the potential of the COE Railroad becoming a completed link of the Airline Rail corridor, renewed efforts in Green Oak are possible

]]> By: Chris http://www.m-bike.org/blog/2008/09/13/west-oakland-countys-missing-link-trail/comment-page-1/#comment-783 Chris Fri, 03 Oct 2008 17:20:50 +0000 http://www.m-bike.org/blog/?p=490#comment-783 I see :( Still, it looks like one could route around the encroached subdivisions, and still make good use of the long stretches where the ROW seems to be intact and there are still bridges over the streams and rivers, and connect to the current trail in South Lyon that ends at Dixboro Rd. I now also see the TAA&W is not quite where I thought it was, and definitely is long gone (doesn't even appear on GMaps Map view as an RR.) It looks like it probably followed/paralleled Nixon Rd/Pontiac Trail all the way to South Lyon. (Although maybe it's the railbed of the trail that goes from the park between 8 and 9 Mile Rds just east of Dixboro?) Oh well. We'll just have to take our bikes on the WALLY commuter train from Howell, Brighton/Chilson, or Whitmore Lake down to Ann Arbor... :) I see :( Still, it looks like one could route around the encroached subdivisions, and still make good use of the long stretches where the ROW seems to be intact and there are still bridges over the streams and rivers, and connect to the current trail in South Lyon that ends at Dixboro Rd.

I now also see the TAA&W is not quite where I thought it was, and definitely is long gone (doesn’t even appear on GMaps Map view as an RR.) It looks like it probably followed/paralleled Nixon Rd/Pontiac Trail all the way to South Lyon. (Although maybe it’s the railbed of the trail that goes from the park between 8 and 9 Mile Rds just east of Dixboro?) Oh well. We’ll just have to take our bikes on the WALLY commuter train from Howell, Brighton/Chilson, or Whitmore Lake down to Ann Arbor… :)

]]> By: Todd Scott http://www.m-bike.org/blog/2008/09/13/west-oakland-countys-missing-link-trail/comment-page-1/#comment-782 Todd Scott Fri, 03 Oct 2008 16:06:26 +0000 http://www.m-bike.org/blog/?p=490#comment-782 Chris, That first rail line ends in South Lyon at Dixboro between 9 and 10 Mile Roads. You can still follow the rail line use the aerial view. However, large segments of it are now subdivisions. By the way, Dixboro is the county line. Chris, That first rail line ends in South Lyon at Dixboro between 9 and 10 Mile Roads. You can still follow the rail line use the aerial view. However, large segments of it are now subdivisions. By the way, Dixboro is the county line.

]]> By: Chris http://www.m-bike.org/blog/2008/09/13/west-oakland-countys-missing-link-trail/comment-page-1/#comment-781 Chris Fri, 03 Oct 2008 15:48:03 +0000 http://www.m-bike.org/blog/?p=490#comment-781 BTW, looking at the OC RR map I linked above, I didn't realize there's a possibility of connecting the Lakelands trail in Pinckney/Hamburg to South Lyon (see Livingston Co. map), which would be awesome if the ROW is still intact. (I guess this was part of the Mich. Air Line and would be part of the whole South Haven/Lake Michigan to St. Clair trail.) http://www.michiganrailroads.com/RRHX/Maps/Counties/47-LivingstonCoMap.htm Plus, it looks like there is another abandoned RR connecting Ann Arbor to South Lyon, labeled TAA&W, which could add Ann Arbor to the epic mix. (Not sure if this ROW exists either, time to do some explorin'!) http://www.michiganrailroads.com/RRHX/Maps/Counties/81-WashtenawCoMap.htm BTW, looking at the OC RR map I linked above, I didn’t realize there’s a possibility of connecting the Lakelands trail in Pinckney/Hamburg to South Lyon (see Livingston Co. map), which would be awesome if the ROW is still intact. (I guess this was part of the Mich. Air Line and would be part of the whole South Haven/Lake Michigan to St. Clair trail.)
http://www.michiganrailroads.com/RRHX/Maps/Counties/47-LivingstonCoMap.htm

Plus, it looks like there is another abandoned RR connecting Ann Arbor to South Lyon, labeled TAA&W, which could add Ann Arbor to the epic mix. (Not sure if this ROW exists either, time to do some explorin’!)
http://www.michiganrailroads.com/RRHX/Maps/Counties/81-WashtenawCoMap.htm

]]> By: Chris http://www.m-bike.org/blog/2008/09/13/west-oakland-countys-missing-link-trail/comment-page-1/#comment-780 Chris Fri, 03 Oct 2008 15:31:48 +0000 http://www.m-bike.org/blog/?p=490#comment-780 Update: http://www.spinalcolumnonline.com/Articles-i-2008-10-01-56160.113117_Owner_to_relocate_dinner_train_after_years_in_Walled_Lake.html Great job, Todd and Nancy! Update: http://www.spinalcolumnonline.com/Articles-i-2008-10-01-56160.113117_Owner_to_relocate_dinner_train_after_years_in_Walled_Lake.html
Great job, Todd and Nancy!

]]> By: The Erie Hiker » MDOT Plans for I-275 Bikeway Northern Extension http://www.m-bike.org/blog/2008/09/13/west-oakland-countys-missing-link-trail/comment-page-1/#comment-776 The Erie Hiker » MDOT Plans for I-275 Bikeway Northern Extension Wed, 01 Oct 2008 22:50:33 +0000 http://www.m-bike.org/blog/?p=490#comment-776 [...] would intersect the old Coe Railroad, which should hopefully become Oakland Counties next big rails to trails conversion.  It would also intersect 13 Mile and 14 Mile Roads — both popular east-west road bike [...] [...] would intersect the old Coe Railroad, which should hopefully become Oakland Counties next big rails to trails conversion.  It would also intersect 13 Mile and 14 Mile Roads — both popular east-west road bike [...]

]]> By: Extending the I-275 Bike Path North | m-bike.org http://www.m-bike.org/blog/2008/09/13/west-oakland-countys-missing-link-trail/comment-page-1/#comment-773 Extending the I-275 Bike Path North | m-bike.org Wed, 01 Oct 2008 11:00:59 +0000 http://www.m-bike.org/blog/?p=490#comment-773 [...] would intersect the old Coe Railroad, which should hopefully become Oakland Counties next big rails to trails conversion.  It would also intersect 13 Mile and 14 Mile Roads — both popular east-west road bike [...] [...] would intersect the old Coe Railroad, which should hopefully become Oakland Counties next big rails to trails conversion.  It would also intersect 13 Mile and 14 Mile Roads — both popular east-west road bike [...]

]]>