HUTCHINSON, Kan. – The Reno County Commission Tuesday received an update on the Reno County Bicycle Master Plan from Harlin Priddle with the Planning Commission and others with the 18-member committee working on the plan.
Phase one calls for six routes to be a part of the plan. That includes a route from Hutchinson to Yoder, going south on Yoder Road.
The next would be one of two from Hutchinson to Buhler. The first would start at Orchard Park, go east along 43rd to the old K-61 highway, north to Medora, then east on 82nd to Buhler. The other route would follow 30th to Buhler-Haven Road, then north to Buhler.
The third would be from Hutchinson to the Highlands going north on Plum to 82nd, then west to Monroe, then north to the Highlands.
The fourth route would be from Hutchinson to Nickerson going north on Hendricks from Rice Park in Hutchinson to 82nd, then west along 82nd to Nickerson.
The next one would start in South Hutchinson going down K-96/K-14 to Trail West Road, then west on Trail West to Partridge.
The commission also heard comments over funding sources that wouldn’t involve tax payer money but would come from grants. That would include signage and adding asphalt along the routes that would allow for the bike lanes, making each route safer.
The county would be under no obligation to help fund any of this, however, Commissioner Dan Deming seemed willing to consider some county money to help cover the cost of signage.
They would like something done in time to begin implementing it next spring. Priddle suggested it could be a part of the county’s master plan under transportation, however, Commission Chair James Schlickau noted that the comprehensive plan the county is working on won’t be ready till the fall of 2016. He suggested that this could be brought before the commission next month for consideration. They decided on Jan. 12 for at least discussion on this item.