After 25 years, the NorBath trail between Northampton and Bath Boroughs will actually be between Northampton and Bath Boroughs. Parks Director Bryan Cope made this announcement to Northampton County Council last week.
Currently, the trail extends from Jacksonville Park in East Allen Township, just outside of Bath, and extends west through Bicentennial Park and into Northampton. From there, you can easily hop onto the D&L Trail. You can ride about 0.3 mile east of Jacksonville Park until you run into a tree, which is exactly what I did last summer.
Construction of the extension into Bath will take place late this year or, more likely, next year.
Depending on where the trail ends in Bath, this could be good news for local businesses.
I always thought it should have been called the .... No Bath Trail
ReplyDeleteOriginally called the the nowhere and back railroad or Northampton n Bath railroad is a beautiful trail I’m so happy it will finally get to Bath and maybe Nazareth someday.
ReplyDeleteGreat news! I can finally ride my bike right to The Fox!
ReplyDeleteI was unaware The Fox still existed. Bath does have a coffee shop, cigar shop and a few restaurants. I never stop bc it is impossible to park anywhere. In a bike it would be much easier.
ReplyDeleteMore terrain for the old spandex clad meat merchants to cruise around and shagg each others filthy keisters
ReplyDeleteBernie hanging out in the Big City of Bath !
ReplyDeleteFunny - this trail goes by the Fox, and the Saucon Rail Trail goes by the Silhouette's Club in Coopersburg.
ReplyDeleteMarketing opportunity?
"More terrain for the old spandex clad meat merchants to cruise around and shagg each others filthy keisters"
ReplyDeleteActually, very few trail cyclists wear spandex. You see that more in cyclists who use the road. What you see on the trails are runners, families going for walks, fitness cyclists, bird watchers, occasional long distance hikers and cyclists going for long distances. Towns like Jim Thorpe and Slatington benefit very much from the trails. I think Northampton might see a benefit, and certainly Bath can too.
To infinity and beyond!
ReplyDeleteHow did this program (Rails to Trails) ever get started and where does the major funding come from for these projects? Just curious
ReplyDeleteGreat news! Love road bikes but too many tractor trailers now in East Allen and all farmland now warehouses. Will need to buy a new bike but safer anyway!!! Tx for the news!
ReplyDelete"How did this program (Rails to Trails) ever get started and where does the major funding come from for these projects? Just curious"
ReplyDeleteAccording to Nature Conservancy, it started in the MidWest in the mid-60s. The $ comes from a variety of sources. There is funding thru transportation bills and I believe the liquid fuels tax. There are also discretionary grants.
I am not 100% certain, but I believe some of the funding also comes through an organization called LVTS who approves these projects then funds the construction. It's made up of Federal and State monies doled out by locally appointed politicians.
ReplyDelete& Lamont controls the LVTS as it's chairman!!!!!
DeleteWell, you know what they say: "For a clean deal, ride to Bath."
ReplyDelete