I live at 20 Pine Avenue in Madison in the neighborhood that the quoted officials claim would be adversely affected by the proposed path. I walk three miles every day on the existing path, generally in the direction of Morristown, and I cannot understand how anyone could claim that such a path, if extended in the opposite direction, would represent an esthetic, safety, security, or environmental hazard of any kind to the residents adjacent to the path. Has anyone consulted with the Morris Township residents whose properties abut the path to find out if they have experienced any problems with it? I further take issue with commentary by the Board of Health president, since I do not think that such a path has anything to do with public health except perhaps to consider that walking on the path would promote health. And we cannot walk or bike on the path unless they build the path. Therefore I oppose any effort to discourage building of this path and I resent the implication in this article that residents in our neighborhood are opposed to the path.

So let me get this straight - it is OK to extend the bike path because it does not go through your backyard. Fine. The blazes with your neighbors two blocks up the hill. The heck with their property values. Who cares about strangers poking around in their backyards when they are on vacation or when their children are playing in them. Remember, the plan does not provide for a barrier between your neighbors' houses and the path. So what happens when, due to the construction of the path, the drainage in your neighborhood gets messed up again. If I am not mistaken, Pine Ave was in really bad shape and the Borough just paid half a million bucks to fix your problem. Will you go to the council to demand they fix the drainage again after the county messes it up? After all you are for the path so shouldn't you be forced to live with the consequences?

some of the homes on Beech have very little property behind them to put a path on. To me it sees it would be very close to their homes and back yards. The path through Morristown has more of a buffer. There is a security issue too. The path would provide an easy and covered access to those homes for potential burglars. I commend the counsel on this one, it just doesn't work there.

I'm confused. If walking, running or biking is your goal why not use the paced slope at the Danforth end of the traction line to access Danforth?. You then proceed south to Morris Place on the existing paved sidewalk and go left on the Morris Place paved sidewalk to Madison Avenue and then east to downtown Madison on existing paved sidewalks. There are crosswalks and one red light. Is this a $500000 inconvenience?

Paths like the Traction Line are great for families with children who want to ride, commuters (my husband takes the Traction Line into Madison to work), and people who are walking for exercise or to get to one of the colleges or businesses along it. It's great because the Morris County Parks do an awesome job of plowing it and keeping it accessible.

It is a huge disappointment to me that Madison is not very bike friendly. A few years ago, the town tried to ban bikes from the main business district roads, and while they have bike lanes painted in the gutters, that's also where people park, so you are constantly having to dodge around traffic.

Part of being part of the community is having things like this. The Traction Line, Patriots Path, and other county parks have paths close to people's houses. It is becoming more and more popular and desirable. In places like Asheville, North Carolina, they have had several businesses move there in the last few months because of the bike paths, they want their employees to be able to enjoy a safe and relaxing ride to work or town.

If you look at the Traction Line in Convent Station or Morristown, it is close to people's houses and they seem fine with it, or they put up their own fences.

Links says the record clearly shows his support for open space. What a joke. What about the big (after the fact) stink you made about Livesey's?

If I am not mistaken Mr. Links raised questions about paying $1,800,000 for a park (with no parking) that no one uses. A fair question. Other questions that could be asked about Livesy include (but are not limited to) - Seems like an awfully high valuation/price given similar real estate transactions in Madison and the Borough assessments on the property at the time. Who chose the valuation companies, who was ensuring that the Borough was being protected and got the best possible price, was the price even negotiated, were their any competing public sector bids on the property -etcetera, etcetera, etcetera......

2006 was a very different time, but the responsibility of public officials to protect the Borough was the same then as it is now. Opposing the Traction Line expansion is protecting the Borough and its residents' safety, property value, and quality of life.

In fact I just found a flier sent out by a Coldwell Banker Real Estate Broker that lists the top 10 property sales in Madison in 2006. Number 1 was for $3,650,000 and number 10 was for $1,825,000. These were homes on places like Midwood Terrace, East Lane, Dellwood Drive, Woodland Rd, etc. How could the Livesy Park property (which was on Kings Road) with a dilapadated kennel, no parking, and that borders the railroad line have sold for $1,800,000? That would put it where, at the 11th most expensive property sold in Madison in 2006? I think Mr Links questions are valid and on point.

I don't. But its all he's got for his sure loser campaign though. Big mistake by the new guy joining up with him but thanks.
And it cost Madison 450k anyway.

Indeed it did not cost Madison 450k. First, yes Madsion kicked in at least 450k for the purchase and the rest came from County and maybe State funds. The state and county only get money by taxing us residents. Therefore a portion of that money came from Madison residents too. And, don't forget Madison had to pay to demolish the old building onsite and clean up the parcel with incremental funds over and above the purchase price. Either way it was a huge waste of TAXPAYER money no matter how you slice it. Not to mention is was way too much to pay given the sales data for the year. Who was watching to store?

What portion? It cost Madison a lot closer to 450 than 1.8 mil like Zim said.
MAH was watching the store.