Healthy Nevada: City unveils biking, walking plans

The next speaker was consultant Robert Johnson of PedNet. "We're all about non motorized transportation," he said. Johnson said everybody should have the opportunity to walk or bike to a destination in town. He gave the group in front of him some information about the master plan and how it showed the current facilities like sidewalks and trails and crosswalks. 

There are 45 miles of sidewalks in Nevada. Most of them in the older parts of town. They vary in size and condition, but they are opportunities. The plan also reveals some opportunities for new walks and trails. There are several trail options in the city, but only two were discussed during the meeting because of time constraints.

Mike Snyder, the senior parks planner for the city of Columbia took the floor to say that he could see trails making Nevada a bike and pedestrian friendly town. He said the study looked at road right of ways, railroad corridors, creeks and streets all as possible sites for trails. He emphasized that the project needs to focus on what could be accomplished in the next 5 to 10 years. "You need a success to get this thing started," he said.

Snyder gave the old Missouri Pacific Railroad bed on the south side of town as one of the best sites. The corridor is already there, he said, and there is a good sound, elevated, gravel base already laid. That will make it low maintenance and completing a project there quicker, easier and cheaper than some other options. The railroad option would be a five mile trail.