FISHERS, Ind. -- The final Nickel Plate Trail deal is now in place, after a long back-and-forth between supporters and opponents.
The Nickel Plate Trail will replace the current Nickel Plate Rail Line, and connect Fishers to Noblesville with a 9.2-mile line.
The rail-to-trail conversion is expected to cost $9.3 million.
"We've seen the outstanding success of the Monon and the Cultural Trail," Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness said. "We think having a world-class pedestrian amenity like the Nickel Plate Trail is really something that Fishers residents would want to see."
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The Nickel Plate Trail plans have had plenty of opponents. More than 6,000 people signed a petition to save the rail line. Despite the petition, the trail plans will go forward.
Manger of Nickel Plate Bar and Grill Lars Tully, said he has watched families use the train to ride to the Indiana State Fair for the past 25 years he's worked at the restaurant.
"We'll miss the business. It would really impact us the weekends and afternoons." said Tully. "People would come in they would eat tenderloins here which I could never figure out - they'd have a tenderloin here and then go to the fair to eat some more."
Fadness said the project is all about connecting communities.
"We've heard time and time again that trails are so important to our residents' quality of life and to have that opportunity to link Noblesville and Fishers and Indianapolis together -- it's an exciting opportunity," Fadness said.
Some people are excited about the project and said it's a good use of space.
"We had the train kind of going past our apartment. When we first moved in it was very loud around here all the time," said Tom Almond.
The train isn't going away completely -- it will still run from Noblesville north.
"I think it's a win-win for the entire region where Noblesville can continue their heritage and history of the train, going north into our more rural Hamilton County parts," "But in the more urban areas where we want to see that pedestrian connectivity, it will allow for Fishers Noblesville and Indianapolis to really connect."
