FILLMORE : City Picks Firm to Extend Bike Path

The Fillmore City Council has hired an engineering firm to construct a new section of bike path that when completed will link two city parks.

J&H; Engineering of Camarillo was awarded the contract at Tuesday’s City Council meeting. The firm, which submitted a bid of about $38,000, was one of six Ventura County businesses vying for the contract.

An existing bike path extends from Shiells Park along the railroad right of way to A Street. When built, the new path will continue from A Street to Central Park.

“This will make the connection between Shiells and Central parks a continuous path,” said City Engineer Burt Rapp. “It will also connect a lot of the residential area with the downtown business center.”

“We encourage people who are on their way to work or shopping to walk or ride their bikes, rather than jump in their car and create more congestion and air pollution.”

Construction will begin in about four weeks, Rapp said. The asphalt path is 10 feet wide and features wooden rail fencing. “There will be openings for pedestrians to access onto the trail at various points,” Rapp said.

At Tuesday’s meeting, the City Council also approved funds to install lighting along the new section, although the existing path is not lit. “We wanted lights for safety and security reasons, because it runs behind an existing neighborhood and is isolated,” Rapp said.

Eventually, city officials said they would like to build bike trails around the entire city, including along the levees of the Sespe Creek, the Santa Clara River and Pole Creek.

“Eventually the path will go around the whole perimeter of the city and the railroad path right through the middle,” Rapp said. He said the city is able to build half a mile of new trail each year. “We’re always seeking federal funds to build more, but there’s a lot of competition with other cities.”