Parkway access from new developments to the Parkway is good for everyone, but using one trail for pedestrian and bike access is not. The volume of traffic has long ago reached the level that pedestrian only and bike only trails need to be in place along and into the Parkway.
Project raises concern
Interchange may create trail woes, residents argue
By Cathy Locke - clocke@sacbee.com
Published 12:00 am PST Thursday, January 10, 2008
Gold River residents say an interchange planned to relieve traffic congestion on nearby thoroughfares and serve new development south of Highway 50 threatens to create traffic problems of a different sort in their community.
The draft environmental im- pact report on the Rancho Cordova Parkway interchange is due for release at the end of February, but the Gold River Community Association declared its opposition to the project when initial plans were unveiled two years ago.
Although the south-only interchange would provide no motor vehicle access to the master-planned residential community north of the freeway, the proposal calls for bicycle and pedestrian access.
Residents fear access from the interchange to Tenderfoot Drive in Eureka Village would result in commuter bicyclists traveling Gold River's privately owned and maintained trail network to reach the American River Parkway.
But the trails were not designed for bicycles, said Steve Watanabe, chairman of the Gold River Interchange Committee and its representative on the city's citizens advisory committee for the project.
"Gold River is careful not to call them bike paths," he said. "It is not safe to have bicycle commuters on those paths."
