HAMILTON COUNTY, Ind. -- At least 1,300 people are against the plans for Noblesville, Indiana and Fishers, Indiana to replace the Nickel Plate rail line with a walking and biking trail.
More than 1,300 people have signed an online petition to "Save the Nickel Plate Road" on change.org, as of Tuesday at noon.
The trail would take over the Nickel Plate Rail line, which the State Fair Train uses. The new 9.2-mile trail would connect 96th Street in Fishers to Pleasant Street in Noblesville.
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*The railroad already shares the road with cars," the petition, created by Logan Day, reads. "Why can't we SHARE the right-of-way with pedestrians and bikes instead of GIVE UP the land ; causing us ALL to LOSE AN INVALUABLE PIECE OF HISTORY!"
Day is asking for support by signing the petition and contacting city officials.
The website allows for people who signed it to write why. Most wrote about preserving the history of the train and the line. Some think the $9.3 million cost of the trail is too expensive, and things should stay the way they are.
Kevin Oldham of Carmel, Indiana, wrote:
I strongly believe in preserving Hamilton County history and the Nickel Plate Railroad is a vital link to the past that will be forever lost if the rails are replaced with a trail. Please consider the damage that would not only be done to this county's history and all the towns/cities that grew up along the railroad, but also to the Indiana Transportation Museum and its extensive inventory of historic equipment that will no longer be allowed a proper method of being exercised. One thing to consider: when the new Hamilton County Courthouse was constructed, the old courthouse did not get demolished, as the two structures co-exist. Similarly, the Nickel Plate Railroad and Nickel Plate Trail can co-exist!
Stacia Seel of Indianapolis wrote:
My family has enjoyed the fair train and the many excursions offered for a decade. We have been waiting patiently for the issues to be resolved and the trains to start running again. It would be a true loss on many levels if all those experiences weren't available in the future.
Mark Schildmeier, of Winchester, Indiana, said:
Why spend nearly $10 million on a trail, if a trail is needed extend the trail south along the river, trails are for nature. We have a great and rare piece of History right here that should be preserved. The ITM will bring more money into the community than a trail. It has some recent challenges that can be overcome. It is a great asset to the community.
The city of Fishers responded to the growing petition Tuesday morning. Spokesperson Ashley Elrod released the following statement:
The change.org petition is just one of several platforms we are monitoring. The momentum and excitement behind the Nickel Plate Trail is strong. We’ve received support from across the community: from schools to businesses to residents. Our top priority for this and other developments in Fishers is to service the interests of our residents and businesses first. The vast majority of the change.org petitioners reside outside of Fishers and Noblesville. We encourage all of our residents who support the trail, have questions or concerns, or would like more information to attend the upcoming listening sessions or to email us at NPT@fishers.in.us.
