BY MICHAEL OLOHAN
OF NORTHERN VALLEY PRESS
TENAFLY, N.J.—An initial “invitation only” stakeholder workshop was held Sept. 26 at Clinton Inn Hotel in Tenafly by a planning consultant seeking input on a proposed Northern Valley Greenway—the first step in a multi-year effort to develop and crystallize a plan for the 8-mile-long greenway.
The workshop was conducted by NV5, a planning and technical consultant hired by the state Department of Transportation to provide technical planning assistance to the Northern Valley Greenway project’s efforts to develop concept plans.
Mayors from the six towns traversed by the future greenway’s path—currently an unused railroad corridor owned by CSX Corp., a rail transportation conglomerate headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida—joined dozens of supporters Aug. 22 at Demarest’s historic train station to show support at a kickoff event to start greenway planning efforts.
Andrew Mikesh, a volunteer with the interlocal Northern Valley Greenway organization, said previously that CSX expressed interest in a proposed greenway and initial fundraising efforts to purchase the rail line are ongoing at the group’s website.
The website notes the greenway efforts are a project of the Rotary Clubs of Tenafly, Northern Valley, and Cresskill/Demarest, and an interlocal municipal initiative with official resolutions of support from mayors and councils of the six boroughs bisected by the defunct rail line. Donations to help support the greenway vision can be made.
‘What greenway could be’
“We are very excited to be part of this project definition process. This is the very first step to define what the greenway could be,” said Mikesh at the Sept. 26 workshop.
Mikesh thanked all the supporters who have helped shepherd greenway efforts over several years, initially generated by a Change.org petition started in 2016 by Haworth teenager Alexander Philliou, who was moved by news of a 13-year-old boy who died after being hit by a truck while riding to school.
Philliou saw potential in the unused rail line corridor as a safe pedestrian pathway for bicyclists, hikers, and walkers.
Area Rotary Clubs endorsed his efforts, borough councils passed resolutions of support, and an interlocal committee was formed to facilitate efforts and build consensus for the project.
Stakeholders and advocates
More than 30 stakeholders including local, county and state public officials, area organizations, technical consultants and project advocates gathered Sept. 26 to ask questions and provide preliminary feedback on general aspects of a potential greenway. Consultants from NV5 facilitated the event and staffed information tables featuring maps while soliciting feedback.
An NV5 consultant, Michael Dannemiller, facilitated the session noting over upcoming months, the consultant would be seeking more input from the public and interested parties to answer questions and concerns about the effort.
‘Know the problems’
“The more we share now the better the [end] product will be,” said Dannemiller.
Dannemiller said upcoming sessions will “help us get to know the problems and issues that stakeholders have” and once public input has been compiled, the consultant will create “concept-level sketches” that can be presented via PowerPoint. From there, project proponents may use the preliminary project designs as a starting point for further discussion and funding.
Dannemiller predicted that NV5 would present “alternative options” for the greenway by Jan. 1 and conclude the project planning phase by Spring 2019.
Sixteen road crossings
Dannemiller said on about 8 miles of unused railroad line there are 16 road crossings and 10 different water crossings. He noted any future greenway construction activities will have “real environmental impacts” and said before the planning phase concludes, NV5 will do an “alternatives analysis” on three potential concept plans for a greenway.
Efforts to reach Dannemiller for project planning and budget details were not returned by press time.
Northern Valley residents interested in donating or attending upcoming meetings can find more information online at nothernvalleygreenway.org.
Donations can be sent to Northern Valley Greenway, c/o Tenafly Rotary Club Charitable Organization, PO Box 75, Tenafly, NJ 07670.
Photos by Murray Bass