Eddystone pushes completion of Circuit Trails by 2025

EDDYSTONE » Council approved a resolution at its July meeting endorsing the completion of the 180 miles of Circuit Trails by 2025 in order to achieve the goal of the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission to complete the 500 miles of circuit trails that will see two-thirds of the circuit a reality. The commission’s ultimate goal is to complete the Circuit Trails by 2040.

According to a letter sent to council by Elizabeth Hessek, program manager for the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, the Circuit Trails use a vast regional network of hundreds of multi-use trails that is growing in size each year, connecting local communities, providing endless opportunities for recreation and commuting.

“The Circuit Trails network, when completed, will total over 750 miles throughout the Greater Philadelphia area including five counties in Pennsylvania and four counties in New Jersey,” Hessek wrote in her letter. “In the realm of transportation infrastructure, the investment to accomplish the Circuit Trails network is small, but the benefits to your community residents are huge.”

The program manger explained that the Circuit Trails are designed to provide safe facilities separated from vehicular traffic to encourage bicyclists, walkers, the physically challenged and other non-motorized users of all ages to be more active and spend time outdoors.

Hessek noted that the East Coast Greenway Trail located in the borough will be an important link in the Circuit that will increase in value as a recreational and transportation asset as the timely completion of 500 miles of Circuit Trails by 2025.

“By passing this resolution, Eddystone Borough Council is publicly endorsing the Circuit Trails program being administered by the Pennsylvania Environmental Council,” said council President Bill Stewart. “In return, the PEC will donate professional services to identify opportunities, (such as) design, seek funding and facilitate construction of recreational trails in Eddystone.”

Stewart said the East Coast Greenway Trail is a bike facility that will run from Maine to Florida and a portion of this trail may potentially run trough the borough.