Trails Can Work

The Newtown Rail Trail can be designed to connect Philadelphia to Newtown without harming residents and nature.

Sporting mature trees and vegetation and offering peace, serenity and a home to its natural inhabitants, this corridor is being threatened with the proposed total destruction of all of its trees, plants and eco-system and construction of an asphalt alley way surrounded by fencing. As SEPTA may reinstitute the rail service at any time which would render the proposed bike alley a waste of tax dollars, residents cannot justify spending millions to destroy this habitat for the purpose of bicyclists, walkers, and joggers, who already have plentiful venues to pursue their activities in our township and surrounding areas.

Moreover, converting the wildlife corridor into a hiking/biking path will push species into the surrounding neighborhoods, creating a conflict with homeowners and motorists whose yards and roads are not suitable for sustaining them and causing the spread of deer ticks, lyme disease, automobile accidents and more and longer traffic back ups at East Holland and Holland Roads, with more pollution and thousands of less trees to absorb it. There are no benefits to township residents or wildlife justifying this terrible destruction.

This will be the new look of our township after they kill the trees and deer:

Preservation of wildlife corridors are hailed in numerous local, state, and federal studies. No study has ever recommended the destruction of a wildlife corridor for any purpose. In fact, building a trail that will destroy this wildlife corridor and replace it with a road surrounded by fencing or other barriers, will offer neither adequate enjoyment of nature nor a continuous path, as there will be many road crossings within frequent, short intervals, causing traffic jams, not natural scenery. The Northampton Township Supervisors have a rare opportunity to conserve a wildlife corridor, at no cost, as opposed to destroying it with millions of taxpayer dollars. Just as our residents depend on roads to travel about, wildlife uses this corridor to travel between necessary sources of sustenance and depends on it for habitat. SEPTA planners have stated they are open to all alternative uses of the rail bed. While conversion to a bicycle path would add to the numerous venues already available for residents and non-residents alike, destroying the wildlife corridor to accomplish this will destroy yet another Northampton natural gem.

There are several ways to meet the desires of trail users while at the same time preserving this beautiful wildlife corridor.

Please explore this website for more information.