Tag: monon south trail

Momentous Day for Monon South Trail as Construction Begins

Posted on by Radius Indiana

BORDEN, Ind. (July 18, 2024) — Over 100 community members and leaders from southern Indiana gathered at Borden Community Park July 16 for a Monon South Trail groundbreaking ceremony.

The trail is slated to span nearly 60 miles through Lawrence, Orange, Washington, and Clark counties, with an additional portion completed through the city of New Albany. The final, full trail will traverse 62.3 miles through southern Indiana, making it the longest continuous trail in the state. The ceremony marks the beginning of the first phase of construction, which will complete 20 miles of multi-use rails-to-trails segments in the communities of Borden, New Pekin, Salem, Saltillo, Campbellsburg, Orleans and Mitchell.

“Today, we are on the verge of realizing what this project could be, the longest trail in Indiana, one of the longest trails in the Midwest,” comments Steve Ferguson, the Chairman of the Board for Cook Group. Ferguson highlighted the future impact of the Monon South Trail to those in southern Indiana, saying “This trail will bring national recognition and will spur on our tourism industry, an industry that we need in southern Indiana in light of our declining populations in the area. Today marks the beginning in realizing the vision to increase economic development in our rural communities, but it is just the first step– let’s get after it!”

Through the state’s Next Level Trails program, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources awarded $22.3 million to Radius Indiana, the region’s economic development partnership, to facilitate the purchase and trail creation of a railbanked CSX railway corridor. Along with additional funding from the READI program, the design and initial construction of phase 1 of the trail began in 2023, with phase 1 construction expected to wrap-up in 2025. The focus of phase 1 is completed sections in communities along the trail, trailheads as well as restroom facilities and parking.

“As construction begins on what will be Indiana’s longest recreational trail, we come together to preserve our history and pave an exciting future for southern Indiana,” said Dan Bortner, DNR director. “The Monon South Trail continues the historic work of Gov. Holcomb’s Next Level Trails initiative by making more connections between communities and connecting more Hoosiers to nature. DNR was honored to facilitate the purchase of this 62.3-mile trail corridor and provide grant funding to support construction.”

As one of the trailhead communities, the town of Borden has become an active supporter of the project and worked alongside Radius Indiana to host the Groundbreaking Ceremony. Steve Williams, Town Council President of Borden expressed how this project will serve their community for years to come:

“The Monon South Trail, which will replace the railway that runs through our community, will bring new life to our town, connecting our schools, recreational areas, and downtown. In the future, we look forward to implementing additional recreational areas, green spaces, and more along the trail for our local community as well as visitors to enjoy.”

Anticipation of the trail comes not only from those in Borden, but also the community leaders, stakeholders and residents of New Pekin, Salem, Saltillo, Campbellsburg, Orleans, Mitchell, and New Albany. These cities and towns have dedicated significant time and resources into the research, planning and execution of the trail and look forward to experiencing the benefits of increased economic growth and higher qualities-of-life as a result of the project.

To assist communities and local entrepreneurs in continued development along the trail, Radius also announced plans for a new pitch competition. Planned for Spring 2025, the competition will be geared toward identifying entrepreneurs who can fill the needs for additional goods and services such as  bike repair and supply shops, shuttle services, bed and breakfasts, stores, eateries, and more along the trail corridor as visitor numbers are expected to increase in the coming years. 

“Beyond assisting with the trail’s physical construction, Radius is committed to working with local leaders to implement economic and community development fundamentals to help the communities take charge of their own growth and prosperity as the trail comes to life,” said Jeff Quyle, president and CEO of Radius Indiana. “We know this recreational asset will bring new visitors and new expectations for services and shops along the trail, and to help support the establishment of new trail businesses, we want to turn to the strong tradition of entrepreneurship that flourishes in Southern Indiana.” 

To learn more about the Monon South Trail construction and stay updated on the trail, attend the Community Update Meeting in Mitchell on July 24. The meeting will be held in the Mitchell Community Building at 5 p.m. EDT. To find out more information on the Community Update Meeting and stay connected with the project, visit www.mononsouth.com or follow Monon South Trail on Facebook.

 

Monon South Trail Selects Contractor

Posted on by Radius Indiana

BEDFORD, Ind. (June 20, 2024) —  At its June meeting, the Radius Indiana Board of Directors unanimously approved MAC Construction’s bid for the first phase of development for the Monon South Trail project. Construction for Phase I of the Trail is set to begin this summer, commencing with a groundbreaking in Borden July 16. 

MAC Construction’s bid of $15.3 million is nearly $4 million under the engineer’s estimate for construction of the initial phase of the project, which will complete 20 miles of the nearly 60-mile trail by the Summer of 2025. During this phase, paved and aggregate sections of the trail will be completed through the downtown areas of Borden, New Pekin, Salem, Saltillo, Campbellsburg, Orleans, and Mitchell. 

MAC Construction is a family-owned civil engineering and construction company based in New Albany, Indiana. Working in multiple sectors of civil construction, MAC Construction’s projects include the New Albany Riverfront Amphitheater stage, constructing the City of Clarksville Little League Park, and beautifying Main Street in Louisville, Kentucky. Throughout their projects, MAC Construction has focused on improving the Midwest, and the company has won multiple awards for excellence in safety and construction from the Kentucky Association of Highway Contractors (KAHC) as well as Associate Builders and Contractors Inc. (ABC) in 2020. 

”We are very pleased that MAC Construction will bring their expertise and experience in recreational project construction to bear on the Monon South Trail. We look upon this project as one that will literally change the recreational and economic landscape of southern Indiana,” remarked Jeff Quyle. “The people who live in these four counties are going to have the opportunity to watch this eyesore rail corridor become an eyecatching asset over the next few months.” 

Radius Indiana, the eight-county economic development organization, leads the Monon South effort and administers the funding for the development of the trail from the state’s NextLevel Trails fund, READI, and Radius. Once completed, the trail will increase connectivity and quality of life among communities in southern Indiana and create new opportunities in tourism and economic development for the businesses and towns. 

To learn more information about the trail, Community Update Meetings will be held July 17 and 24. For additional updates, visit mononsouth.com and follow us on Facebook.

Radius Indiana Announces Advertisement for Bids on Monon South Trail Phase 1

Posted on by Radius Indiana

General Notice

Radius Indiana (Owner) is requesting Bids for the construction of the following Project: Monon South
Trail Phase 1A. Sealed bids for the construction of the Project will be received at the Salem City Hall
located at 201 E. Market St., Salem, IN, 47167, until May 24, 2024, at 10:00 AM (Eastern Time). At that
time the Bids received will be publicly opened and read. All bids must be enclosed in a sealed
envelope bearing the title Monon South Trail Phase 1A, the name of the bidder, and the notation
“BID ENCLOSED”. Bids received after 10:00 AM (Eastern Time) on May 24, 2024 will be returned
unopened.

Phase 1A of the Monon South Trail Project includes several multi-use rails-to-trails segments throughout
four counties in Southern Indiana totaling 20.4 miles. The communities included in Phase 1A include
Borden, New Pekin, Salem, Saltillo, Campbellsburg, Orleans, and Mitchell. The multi-use path will be
constructed on existing railroad ballast within the railbanked right-of-way owned by Radius Indiana. The
trail will be a mix of asphalt, concrete, and compacted aggregate surfaces. The work includes linear
grading, signage, pavement markings, railings, and other trail amenities. Existing bridge structures will
be rehabilitated with new deck surfaces. Phase 1A is subdivided into 3 contract sections, and bidders
may submit a Bid on any individual section or any combination of sections, as set forth in the Bid Form.
Phase 1B will be a separate project to construct trailheads at various locations along the trail and is not
included in this contract.

Information and Bidding Documents for the Project are available at the following designated website:
https://www.lynnimaging.com/ (Lynn Imaging ePlanroom). Bidding Documents may be purchased from
the designated website in either electronic or paper format. Prospective Bidders are urged to register
with the designated website as a plan holder even if Bidding Documents are obtained from a plan room
or source other than the designated website. The designated website will be updated periodically with
addenda, lists of registered plan holders, reports, and other information relevant to submitting a Bid for
the Project. All official notifications, addenda, and other Bidding Documents will be offered only through
the designated website. Neither Owner nor Engineer will be responsible for Bidding Documents,
including addenda, if any, obtained from sources other than the designated website. Any charges
incurred in obtaining Contract Documents are not reimbursable by Owner.

Questions for the Engineer should be directed to Ryan Hughes, PE of Clark Dietz, Inc., 120 W Spring
Street, New Albany, Indiana 47150, PH: 859-286-1141, email: ryan.hughes@clarkdietz.com.

A mandatory pre-bid conference for the Project will be held on May 9, 2024, at 10:00 AM at Salem City
Hall, 201 E. Market St., Salem, IN, 47167. Bids will not be accepted from Bidders that do not attend the
mandatory pre-bid conference.

For all further requirements regarding bid submittal, qualifications, procedures, and contract award,
refer to the Instructions to Bidders that are included in the Bidding Documents.

This Advertisement is issued by Jeff Quyle, President and CEO, Radius Indiana. April 30, 2024

Radius Indiana Hires for new Regional Main Street Program

Posted on by Radius Indiana

BEDFORD, Ind. (April 09, 2024) – In an effort to support the launch and operation of Main Street programs along the Monon South Trail, Radius Indiana recently welcomed another staff member to its team. A Lawrence County native, Sadie Miskuf, will serve as the organization’s first Regional Main Street Director.

Established by the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs, the Indiana Main Street program supports and encourages community-driven revitalization of downtown areas in cities and towns. Miskuf will assist member communities with the initial application process of community meetings, stakeholder awareness, board formation, financial forecasting, and a formal work plan. Once accredited, the communities along the Monon South Trail will become Indiana’s first Regional Main Street organization and will be eligible for exclusive grant opportunities, technical assistance and educational resources.

The position was created in coordination with the recent Monon South Trail development, as the cities and towns will soon be joined together by the nearly 60-mile recreational asset and experience a new wave of visitors. This poses a unique opportunity for the communities’ downtown or commercial districts in the Magnificent Monon South Regional Main Street program. Miskuf will accelerate trail-based economic development in partnership with community leaders, local business owners and residents to spur revitalization and excitement surrounding the downtowns.

“Mitchell appreciates seeing this kind of hands-on assistance with the Main Street program. Having Sadie from Radius step in will relieve a lot of the administrative and organizational load our downtown businesses would face,” said Don Caudell, Mayor of Mitchell, Indiana. “This lets our local leaders focus on the community and maximize how we grow to meet the needs of the Monon South Trail visitors who will come here.”

In 2023, Indiana Main Street communities completed 262 rehabilitation projects, opened 196 new downtown businesses, created over 3,000 jobs and finalized 171 public improvement projects across the state. These initiatives were made possible by the 1,600 passionate volunteers throughout the communities that dedicated nearly 43,000 hours of their time.

“Our communities along the trail share this opportunity to capitalize on the business growth that the Monon South Trail will bring, and by providing our regional resources to help them utilize the power of the Main Street program, we expect to accelerate the strengthening of their existing downtown businesses as well as enable the growth of new businesses. We’re very excited and grateful that Sadie brings the relevant Main Street experience to smooth the implementation of the program,” said Jeff Quyle, President of Radius.

Miskuf previously served as Main Street Director for a small town in Florida before returning to Indiana and has a proven history of fostering collaboration among stakeholders, implementing strategic initiatives, and leveraging resources to build vibrant communities. She also has a strong passion for philanthropy, revitalization of small-town assets, and Hoosier heritage.

“I am thrilled for the opportunity to bring the Magnificent Monon South Main Street program to life,” said Miskuf. “It’s an honor to be part of something so special that will bring communities together across Southern Indiana, allow visitors to experience what the region has to offer, and continue to thrive for many generations to come.”

Radius Indiana, design teams present the Monon South Trail Annual Report to the Communities

Posted on by Radius Indiana

SALEM, Ind. (Feb. 2, 2024) — Leaders from southern Indiana gathered at the first “Monon South Annual Report to the Communities” hosted by Radius Indiana to learn about the latest developments in the creation of the Monon South Trail, slated to span nearly 60 miles through Lawrence, Orange, Washington, and Clark counties.

Through the state’s Next Level Trails program, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources awarded $23.4 million to Radius Indiana, the region’s economic development partnership, to facilitate the purchase and trail creation of a railbanked CSX railway corridor. Along with additional funding from the READI program, the design and initial construction of phase 1 of the trail began in 2023.

As part of the Annual Report, Jeff Quyle, president and CEO of Radius, shared information on the projects and programs already in progress. To date, existing rail and crossties have been removed, road crossings have been improved, and the rail bed is being prepared for trail construction.

“We have seen a lot of progress during the first year of development for the Monon South and we are actively pursuing additional grant funding for phases 2 and 3,” said Quyle. “The engagement of our local leaders has been vital to our success, and this first report to the communities is a way to ensure that those leaders, who are our partners, supporters, and owners of this monumental project, continue to be involved and informed.”

Several initiatives to engage the communities along the trail are also underway. Cities and towns will be invited to participate in public art programs, which will add local touches to the trail corridor, and hundreds of residents have attended public meetings to give input on the design, location of trailheads, amenities, and sustainability of the trail. 

In addition, Radius partnered with the Eppley Institute for Parks and Public Land at Indiana University to develop park master plans to enhance and strengthen each community’s connectivity and engagement with the Monon South. In fall 2023, Radius launched a crowdfunding campaign, securing $50,000 to restore a historic boxcar located near the future trail in downtown Salem. And coming in 2024, Radius will work with downtowns connected to the trail to create the state’s first regional Mainstreet Program to encourage downtown revitalization and open opportunities for state funding and assistance.

Ryan Hughes from Clark Dietz, the lead civil engineering firm, and Ron Taylor from Taylor Seifker Williams Design Group, the trail’s design firm, gave a behind-the-scenes look at the Monon South’s infrastructure design, construction, and master planning efforts. Attendees had the first look at the initial design concepts for trailhead structures, bike and pedestrian rest stops, restrooms, and other amenities planned along the trail.

Orleans Clerk-Treasurer and Executive Director of the Orleans Chamber of Commerce Robert Henderson was in attendance and has been following the Monon South from its inception, “I am excited about all of the energy and effort being put in along the corridor. This event really showed all of the thought and detail that has gone into the work, and I appreciate Radius putting together this forum to allow us to stay up-to-date and engaged. I was interested to learn more about future funding and grant opportunities that will help bring the trail to life,” he added.

Radius plans to hold this event each year to share construction progress and new community developments for the Monon South. To learn more, visit www.mononsouth.com and follow Monon South Trail on Facebook. 

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ABOUT RADIUS INDIANA: Radius Indiana is a regional economic development partnership representing eight counties in Southern Indiana: Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Greene, Lawrence, Martin, Orange, and Washington. Formed in 2009, Radius Indiana also serves as a point of contact in Indiana for Naval Support Activity Crane and leads regional collaboration by leveraging the diverse assets of the region to drive attraction, retention, and expansion of business, thereby increasing employment and investment opportunities and quality of life within the region.

Radius Indiana reaches fundraising goal for Monon South Trail – Salem Trailhead Boxcar Restoration

Posted on by Radius Indiana

BEDFORD, Ind. (Dec. 8, 2023) –  Radius Indiana will receive a $25,000 matching grant to restore an original L&N 40 boxcar as part of the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority’s (IHCDA) CreatINg Places program. Over 90 donors contributed $25,000 for the boxcar through the Patronicity online crowd-funding platform, which enabled the project to receive the grant funds that will be used for the restoration of the new Salem Monon South trailhead landmark.

Radius will repurpose the boxcar for the community’s use at the Salem trailhead on the Monon South Trail and restore it to its original appearance. The downtown Salem trailhead will be located just two blocks from the Salem Courthouse Square and will provide a welcoming location for both local residents and trail visitors to enjoy downtown Salem’s attractions.

“This boxcar will become a local landmark for trail users as they visit Salem in the coming years,” said Jeff Quyle, president and CEO of Radius Indiana. “We look forward to providing this unique, attractive memorial to mark the importance of the railroad in Salem history.”

Renovations are expected to be completed in 2024 and more information about a ribbon-cutting ceremony will be available in the future.

Since the CreatINg Places program began in 2016, projects have raised more than $9.4 million in public funds and an additional $7.7 million in matching IHCDA funds. The program is available to projects located in Indiana communities. Non-profit entities (with 501c3 or 501c4 status) and local units of government are eligible to apply. Eligible projects must have a minimum total development cost of $10,000, where the recipient will receive $5,000 in IHCDA matching funds should it successfully raise $5,000 through Patronicity. IHCDA will provide matching grant funds up to $50,000 per project.

Several communities in the Radius region have used the Patronicity program for crowd-funding to participate in CreatINg place program in recent years, helping to provide invaluable assistance in investing in quality of place for rural communities. The boxcar project is the first time Radius Indiana has participated in the program.

For updates on the boxcar restoration and the Monon South Trail Project, please visit www.mononsouth.com and follow Monon South Trail on Facebook.

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ABOUT RADIUS INDIANA: Radius Indiana is a regional economic development partnership representing eight counties in Southern Indiana: Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Greene, Lawrence, Martin, Orange, and Washington. Formed in 2009, Radius Indiana also serves as a point of contact in Indiana for Naval Support Activity Crane. It leads regional collaboration by leveraging the diverse assets of Southwest Central Indiana to drive attraction, retention, and expansion of business, thereby increasing employment and investment opportunities and quality of life within the region.

Lt. Gov. Crouch, IHCDA launch crowdfunding campaign for Monon South Trail – Salem Trailhead Boxcar Restoration

Posted on by Radius Indiana

$25,000 goal to receive a matching grant through IHCDA’s CreatINg Places initiative

SALEM, Ind. (Oct. 11. 2023) — Salem will soon have a new trailhead featuring a restored boxcar if this crowdfunding campaign reaches its goal of raising $25,000 by Nov. 25, 2023. If successful, the project led by Radius Indiana will receive a matching grant as part of the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority’s (IHCDA) CreatINg Places program.

“The Monon South Trail is a wonderful addition to the Salem area, and the proposed enhancement of the trailhead will highlight access to recreation, promote healthy lifestyles and shine a spotlight on the trail,” said Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, Indiana’s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Funds from this campaign will be used to repurpose a boxcar to serve as the trailhead for the newly developed Monon South Trail in the heart of Salem.

“CreatINg Places is helping us bring an incredible opportunity back to life, and we are very excited to carry out this project, restoring an original and very unique L&N 40 boxcar,” said Jeff Quyle, President and CEO of Radius Indiana. “This project will create a memorable tourism asset in Salem and will anchor a downtown trailhead the Salem community can cherish. Thank you to our community members who will support us during this project and throughout the rest of the development of the Monon South Trail.”

Since the CreatINg Places program began in 2016, projects have raised more than $9.4 million in public funds and an additional $7.7 million in matching IHCDA funds. The program is available to projects located in Indiana communities. Non-profit entities (with 501c3 or 501c4 status) and local units of government are eligible to apply. Eligible projects must have a minimum total development cost of $10,000, where the recipient will receive $5,000 in IHCDA matching funds should it successfully raise $5,000 through Patronicity. IHCDA will provide matching grant funds up to $50,000 per project.

Community excitement builds around Monon South Trail

Posted on by Radius Indiana

BEDFORD, Ind. (June 13, 2023) – Large crowds totaling nearly 150 people attended Southern Indiana Trailways’s (SIT) public kick-off meetings in Orleans and Salem in late May and early June. The trail support organization and its partners invited community members to attend sessions to introduce them to the Monon South Trail project and involve them in the trail development process.

SIT, a nonprofit organization established by Radius Indiana to implement and manage the Monon South project, co-hosted the events along with its design partner Taylor Siefker Williams Design Group (TSW), and lead engineering firm Clark Dietz. These meetings allowed community members to learn about the development of the trail and provide feedback to the design team for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build the longest recreational trail in Indiana. 

“It was great to see so many regional residents attend these meetings and provide thoughtful insight about the design and planning of the trail,” said Jeff Quyle, president of Radius. “This is a community-focused project to improve the quality of life and economy of our regional communities and we care about their questions and opinions.”

Andrea Ireland, project specialist for the National Park Service (NPS), presented to attendees in Orleans to provide insight into how she and NPS will be involved throughout the process and shared her excitement for the project. In March 2022, SIT applied to the Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program of the NPS and received funding approval in May of that year. The grant is a non-cash grant that provides technical assistance and personnel to assist SIT as it develops the organizational capacity to lead community engagement with the Monon South Trail project.

Illustrating the economic potential that the Trail is expected to unleash, a Salem meeting attendee discussed becoming an entrepreneur while he shared his interest in starting a new business to cater to the needs of trail travelers. The meeting also introduced many attendees to Salem’s Depot Railroad Museum, whose presentation of Monon rail historical items and memorabilia evokes the glory of the railroad era in southern Indiana.

“The project team was delighted by the turnout and excitement at the Monon South Trail public kickoff meetings. Engaging with the communities and future users of the trail will be a priority during the life of the project,” said Ryan Hughes, project engineer at Clark Dietz. “We were able to share more details about the design process and begin collecting ideas for how to build a trail that benefits all users.”

Community members will have a second opportunity to engage with the project later this month at the Monon South Community Workshops. These meetings will allow attendees to hear directly from TSW and discuss how each community connects to the trail, community desires for access and/or trailhead amenities, and a discussion on the preliminary design standards for the project.

Community Workshops are scheduled for:

  • Wednesday, June 21 (Orleans)
    • Orleans Jr. and Sr. High School Cafeteria
    • 200 W. Wilson St. Orleans, IN 47452
    • 1 – 4 p.m.
  • Thursday, June 22 (Borden and New Pekin)
    • Borden Museum
    • 101 E. Main St. Borden, IN 47106
    • 1 – 4 p.m.
  • Wednesday, June 28 (Mitchell)
    • Monon on Main Event Center
    • 515 W. Main St. Mitchell, IN 47446
    • 1 – 4 p.m.
  • Thursday, June 22 (Borden and New Pekin)
    • The Depot Railroad Museum (206 S. College Ave. Salem, IN 46167
    • 1 – 4 p.m.

For more information on the trail meetings or to view previous meeting presentations and digital design materials, visit www.southernindianatrailways.org. 

 

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