Jackson’s Spokes Are Turning

Jaro Vacek

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by Katie Bonds
August 11, 2010

Jackson's bike-friendly status could get a boost, with bike advocate organizations, the Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership, the Jackson Chamber of Commerce and the city working together to develop multi-use bike trails to create a stronger bike presence.

Currently, Jackson only has two bike lanes: one on Old Canton Road and one on the parkway near Jackson State University. In June, however, the city received a $2 million grant to improve Fondren's streetscapes, which may include bike trails, and the city and chambers are working to convert an abandoned railroad track near Belhaven into a multi-purpose trail.

In addition, Bike Walk Mississippi moved its office from Oxford to Jackson Aug. 1.

Melody Moody, the newly appointed executive director of Bike Walk, says the bike and pedestrian advocacy group's new location inside the Jackson Community Design Center on Capitol Street downtown will put the office close to the state Legislature and in the midst of new development.

"The Jackson Metro Cyclists, one of the most active bicycling clubs in the state, and the Jackson Bike Advocates, a fairly new organization, have been very active in the past year," Moody says. She hopes that Bike Walk Mississippi moving to Jackson will help build up bike-ability in the city.

On the trails front, recent efforts by the two Jackson-area chambers and Jackson's Department of Planning and Development may bring a segment of a larger bike plan to the city. In May, the department submitted a grant application to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks to fund a conversion of the abandoned railroad track that runs east of Laurel Street to High Street into a multi-purpose trail. Dr. Clay Hays, chairman of the Greater Jackson Chamber, said that the multi-use trail will connect the area near the Museum of Natural Science to the Mississippi Farmer's Market on High Street.

The city destroyed the old railroad track long ago and installed a dirt service road in the woods on the eastern side of Belhaven. If the city receives the grant, the chamber has pledged to help with additional funding.

The Department of Planning and Development is seeking $282,000 from the grant and will contribute $71,000 out of the city's general fund for an initial cost of $353,000 for the project. The trail would be about two miles long, 10 feet wide and paved with asphalt.

Hays estimated the trail could be completed in 18 months if funding for the project comes through. He also mentioned that the chamber is discussing plans to set up a foundation for the project, which would help with maintenance and long-term funding of the trail.

Former Jackson Chamber President David Pharr said that chamber, which serves only Jackson businesses, wants to make sure that plans for a regional bike trail system includes the city.

"It'd be possible for it (a regional trail system) to go around Jackson if we're not careful. So we've got to be sure to get the Jackson segment developed," Pharr says.

Pharr, Hays and Corinne Fox, deputy director of the Department of Planning and Development, said that a regional trail system could eventually connect with trails in Ridgeland, Clinton and Flowood.

"Jackson would be a central hub, and then we would have spokes going out from the center of Jackson to connect other trails," Hays said.

"Ultimately, someone could get on a trail in Jackson and ride all the way to the reservoir or all the way to Jackson State or beyond," Fox added.

A similar project in Hattiesburg, known as the Longleaf Trace, is designated as a Rails to Trails Recreational District. The 41-mile trail runs from Hattiesburg to Prentiss. The district is made up of four cities and three counties that contribute a portion of their property taxes toward the trail for maintenance.

Pharr noted that this will not be necessary for the Jackson trail, but may be a possibility if the trail connects to surrounding counties in the future. "It could be a fantastic regional project that the three counties could work on together, but we'll have to see what the will of those jurisdictions is," Pharr said.

The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks will notify the city by Aug. 10 about the funds. The next step would be an engineering design plan, which could take three to four months to develop, Fox says. The city would then need to obtain easements from private property owners along the railroad to build the trail on their land. Construction could take an additional six to seven months. If the grant does not come through, the chambers will pursue other options to fund the trail.

If you would like to help efforts to improve Jackson’s bike-ability (or just meet cool people), join Jackson Bike Advocates or Jackson Metro Cyclists who host regular group bike rides. Visit http://www.jacksonbikeadvocates.org or http://www.jmc.clubexpress.com for more information.


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