Route E: Six Mile Creek Trail

May 5

People enjoying the Six Mile Creek Bridge Plaza. Conceptual rendering by Whitham Planning & Design, PLLC

The Six Mile Creek Trail links Downtown, Southside, and West Hill by building connections along quieter neighborhood streets. Along the way, the trail connects directly to Wegmans, a popular everyday destination which is currently poorly served by transportation alternatives to private vehicles. Because of this connection and the fact that this route will be directly linked with all other proposed routes, the Six Mile Creek Trail is expected to be a major east-west corridor. This trail is recommended within the most recent Southside Neighborhood Plan by the City of Ithaca and is one of the top priority projects of the Better Bike Network.

Subway line-style diagram of Six Mile Creek Trail route with the following stops and connections, from left: Floral Ave (connection to CWT), Cherry St (connection to BDT Extension), Wegmans (connection to future Meadow St bike lanes), Southside (con…

The extension of the Black Diamond Trail from Floral Avenue to Cherry Street via a new bridge is an exciting kickstart to the Six Mile Creek Trail route, providing West Hill residents a more direct, protected path to shopping destinations while avoiding the congested roads on Inlet Island. The trail is currently composed of informal footpaths along the creek on North and South Titus Streets. The Six Mile Creek Trail route could be upgraded to a shared-use path throughout, or a combination of wide sidewalks and on-street bike infrastructure appropriate for all ages and abilities.

Proposed Projects

Proposed Six Mile Creek Trail route superimposed over satellite imagery, with projects E1 through E6 labeled in a way consistent with descriptions elsewhere on this page.

Key Projects (Phase 0.5)

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E3: Build Six Mile Creek Trail (Wegmans to Plain St)

Connect Wegmans driveway to S Plain St with protected bike lane or shared use trail. Improve safety by adding signal priority and diverter at Meadow St. Repave parts of S Plain St.

E4: Create the Six Mile Creek Bridge Plaza

Convert one lane of Plain St bridge into plaza over creek with benches, trail info, public art, and add a cycle track along plaza curbside.

E5: Build Six Mile Creek Trail (Plain St to Cayuga St)

Add diverters to encourage vehicles to use Albany and Cayuga Streets for thru-traffic. Create 11+ foot wide shared-use trail along creekside.

Phase 1 Projects

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D1: Conduct Feasibility Study of Elm Street Bike Lanes

Conduct study to determine how to serve southern West Hill residential areas with bike infrastructure, in particular West Village Apartments.

C2: Implement Plain St Painted or Buffered Bike Lanes

Add painted or buffered bike lanes depending on traffic flow levels after implementing traffic calming measures at crossings (Project C3).

F5: Build Access Paths Between Rt 13 and Spencer Rd

Create shared-use paths connecting Spencer Rd to Rt 13 every 800 feet (two city blocks); use vacant lots next to Honda and U-Haul property

F4a: Create Spencer Road Living Street

Repave Spencer Rd from S Meadow St to Salvation Army exit and enhance family-friendly feel of neighborhood by traffic calming road to 10 mph using chicanes, paving elements, and vegetation