The Morris County Park Commission (MCPC) continues to seek grant funding to complete the design, permitting, and construction of the remaining 1-mile of the Traction Line Trail between Danforth Road and Elm Street in Madison Borough.  The proposed plan for this currently undeveloped section is to continue the paved shared use path further east within the corridor owned by MCPC. See this presentation regarding the Traction Line Extension project.

The design of the trail extension would follow a similar cross-section as the existing Traction Line Trail uses fencing, landscaping and other types of buffers to separate the trail from the adjacent active NJ Transit line and residential

 properties. The project would also include connections to adjacent destinations such as parks, neighborhoods, and other nearby walking and biking infrastructure.

The primary goal of this project is to provide increased access for non-motorized modes of travel, which result in numerous secondary (and multifaceted) outcomes related to economics, health, congestion, air quality, and connectivity, to name a few.

The Traction Line Trail is unique in that it is the only trail in NJ that is directly parallel to an active transit line (NJ Transit) for a significant distance.  These types of trail facilities are referred to as “Rails-with-Trails”.

The Traction Line Trail-Extension Project’s estimated cost for construction is $3 to $4 million dollars.  To find out more about the Project, contact Denise Chaplick at dchaplick@morrisparks.net.  To show your support for the Project, residents of Madison should contact their Council representative; others should contact County Commissioners in support of funding MCPC and non-motorized facilities. 

You can find out more about the Traction Line on the main webpage for this park. 

click either map for a full page view