Exhibit A Page 1 of 4

TOWNSHIP OF LOWER MERION

Parks & Recreation Committee

Issue Briefing

Topic: Reallocation of Township CIP funds from Rolling Hill Park Trail and Natural Area Stewardship Plan to a joint Feasibility Study of the Cynwyd Heritage Trail (CHT) Connection with the City of .

Prepared By: Donna L. Heller, Recreation Supervisor

Date: April 1, 2015

I. Action To Be Considered By The Board: Approve the reallocation of Township Capital Improvement Program (CIP) funds from Rolling Hill Park Trail and Natural Area Stewardship Plan to a joint Feasibility Study of the Cynwyd Heritage Trail Connection with the City of Philadelphia.

II. Why This Issue Requires Board Consideration: The Feasibility Study would be required to support our future Grant fund applications for design and construction of this trail connection. The reallocation of funds as well as the feasibility study requires approval by the Board of Commissioners.

III. Current Policy Or Practice (If Applicable):

IV. Other Relevant Background Information: A grant was applied for from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to support the completion of a Natural Areas Stewardship and Trail plan for Rolling Hill Park in the amount of $18,000. The grant application was unsuccessful, so we have the $18,000 matching funds in our 2015 CIP budget under Parks and Recreation Plan Implementation.

The City of Philadelphia has acquired grant funds for a feasibility study for a trail from the Philadelphia Zoo area to City Avenue. Their feasibility study would continue their West Bank Schuylkill River Trail Feasibility study (Completed in 2012) which links the Philadelphia Zoo to Centennial District in Fairmount Park and Bartram’s Garden.

The City of Philadelphia has reached out to our Planning Department to determine our interest and availability to join their feasibility study by continue the study along the Septa R-6 line in Lower Merion to connect to the Cynwyd Heritage Trail. The City Avenue Official Map indicates the extension of the CHT from Cynwyd Station

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Exhibit A Page 2 of 4

to Bala Station. Piggybacking on the City’s study will reduce the cost of studying the trail extension on its own.

The potential Rails with Trails connection would afford our residents enhanced recreational opportunities, safe and attractive pedestrian and bicycle travel and commuting, an increased value of real estate, and an increase in safety with the growth in non-motorized traffic.

V. Impact On Township Finances: $18,000 of Township grant matching funds budgeted in 2015 would be used toward an alternate capital feasibility study.

VI. Staff Recommendation: That the Committee recommend to the Board the reallocation of $18,000 budgeted in the 2015 CIP to fund the joint feasibility study with Philadelphia to continue the study along the Septa R-6 line in Lower Merion to connect to the Cynwyd Heritage Trail.

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Exhibit A Page 3 of 4 shawmont connection m a n a y u n k

to ivy ridge trail w p a th

ivy ridge station

manayunk rail station

lower merion township philadelphia

il a r id h t s ep at d n a o ill r o k h c i k c h o a r s s i harvard road connection connelly w wissahickon connection rail station

w il e s ra t righters ferry trail t l wissahickon transit station a e u g r e ete l l cem ry wissahickon ta h il ri gateway trail e k h e l ly

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Existing Cynwyd Heritage Trail ml ls k dr ive Proposed Cynwyd Heritage Trail trai - ue w en e Proposed Sidepath/Trail on Public Property v s

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Proposed Sidepath/Trail on Private Property e

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Exisiting Philadelphia Trail a

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Approved Philadelphia Trail (awaiting funding) philadelphia

Philadelphia Trail to be studied cht extension to 52 street Township Trail Plan Exhibit A Page 4 of 4 ÿ ÿ  ÿÿÿÿ ÿ ÿ

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