The highly anticipated Urban Trail project has hit a snag, as it has been pulled from the agenda. 

 

The latest chapter for Fort Wayne's ambitious Urban Trail closed abruptly this week.

A long-debated resolution to fund a key downtown section was suddenly pulled from the City Council agenda, shelving the project indefinitely.

This move casts serious doubt on the trail's immediate future.

The disputed segment would run along Superior Street between Clinton and Lafayette streets, a vital corridor in the city's rapidly changing downtown core.

Redevelopment Director Alec Johnson confirmed the decision, stating his team will now shift focus to a complete redesign.

The goal is to create a revised plan that can satisfy a deeply divided council.

Vocal critics, like At-large Councilman Marty Bender, have hammered the project over its proposed $1.7 million price tag.

Bender bluntly called the proposed section a "trail that goes nowhere" for what he described as just two blocks of sidewalk.

It was a sharp critique that has resonated with other council members concerned about the city's spending.

On the other side, At-large Councilwoman Michelle Chambers has been a steadfast supporter of the trail.

She successfully pushed for reconsideration in late July but acknowledged the votes simply were not there to move forward this time.

Chambers remains optimistic, predicting a redesigned, lower-cost version will eventually succeed.

Development officials noted the redesign will more narrowly focus on the required streetscape around the new Lofts at Headwaters development, tying the trail's fate to the major residential project.

For now, a project meant to enhance downtown connectivity is itself disconnected from a clear path forward.