MISSION
In 2021, a group of concerned and passionate citizens from the Mequon Thiensville area formed a committee, which in 2022 became a 501(c)(3) called MT Trails Foundation, Inc., whose mission is to develop and support a system of family friendly bicycling and walking off road trails throughout the Mequon and Thiensville communities.
FIRST PROJECT
HIGHLAND ROAD BIKE/PEDESTRIAN SPUR
MT Trail’s first project is to work with local government and residents to privately fund a safe, off road bidirectional path for 1.5 miles along Highland Road stretching between Rotary Park and the Ozaukee InterUrban Trail (OIT) to connect families, children and visitors to Rotary Park, the OIT and the Town Center of Mequon/Thiensville.
IN THE NEWS
"The Police Department supports the creation of defining a space for bicyclists to ride and pedestrians to walk, to foster a safer environment for the traveling motorists and bicycles."
Mequon Police Chief Pryor
"Something additional like this path would definitely lure our cross country runners over there!"
Jay Fuller, Head Coach, Homestead Highlanders Cross Country
HIGHLAND ROAD BIKE SPUR
TIMELINE OF EVENTS
2021YEAR ONE
A NEED IS IDENTIFIED
A small group of concerned and passionate citizens formed a committee to investigate an off-road bike/pedestrian paved trail along Highland Rd to Rotary Park from the Ozaukee Interurban Trail and presented the idea to the Mequon-Thiensville Bike & Pedestrian Way Committee to align vision.
RESEARCH IS PERFORMED
including feasibility studies, preliminary cost estimates and presenting the results to significant landowners.
2022YEAR TWO
GRASS ROOTS INTEREST and GETTING ORGANIZED
The committee formed the MT Trails Foundation and gained non-profit status (501c3). As required for non-profit status, a Board of Directors was formed (volunteer basis). The Mequon-Thiensville Community Foundation (MTCF) took us under their wing (our donations flow through them, we have a page on their website).
PUBLIC AWARENESS
Letters of support from City of Mequon Mayor, the Wisconsin Bike Federation and others were obtained, and April brought our first official event: "Celebrate Trails Day" (Rails to Trails national celebration) co-hosted by MTCF to gather input and determine support for the initial project. Summer informational "pop ups" (at M-T community events) continued. Discussions and concerns with significant landowners were captured and addressed.
FUNDRAISING BEGAN
MT Trails Foundation received a $988,000 grant from the Federal Government (administered through WisDOT) for the Highland Road Bike Spur and community grants began coming in (the first one was from Mequon-Thiensville Sunrise Rotary!) as well as support from individuals.
CITY OF MEQUON INVOLVEMENT
MT Trails board met with City of Mequon engineers and Department of Forestry and Public Works representatives along Highland Road to discuss details of the project.
2023YEAR THREE
ALIGNMENT WITH THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT
The Mayor of Mequon and City Administrator were presented with a 10 year plan from the MT Trails Foundation. The First Project, the Highland Road Bike Spur, was approved by the City of Mequon’s Committee of the Whole and a “right of way” agreement between MT Trails and the City of Mequon was signed.
ORANIZING VOLUNTEERS AND FUNDRAISING
More volunteers got wind of the MT Trails efforts and assisted with purchasing a dedicated tent for MT Trails to use at our community pop up events. These volunteers were invaluable in setting up our Facebook page, dedicated emails and representing MT Trails at numerous community events, including our signature Summer Evening Chef’s table fundraising event at Rotary Park.
DISCUSSIONS WITH SIGNIFICANT LANDOWNERS CONTINUED
FINAL DESIGN CONSULTANT APPROVED by WisDOT for the Highland Road Bike Spur.
2024YEAR FOUR
HIGHLAND ROAD BIKE SPUR PROGRESS CONTINUES
- Army Core of Engineers Wetland Jurisdiction was received
- Traffic Impact Analysis was completed.
- Traffic Safety Studies were performed as requested by the City of Mequon and homeowners.
- Significant discussions and meetings with homeowners on both the north and south side and the City of Mequon were held.
- Based on the above work, the trail will be installed within the 50-foot City Right of Way, on the Northside of Highland Rd. The drainage ditch along Highland Rd will provide a Safety buffer between the Highland Rd and Bike/Pedestrian Trail. Details of the northside decision was presented to the Joint Mequon-Thiensville Bike/Pedestrian Way Commission on December 12, 2024 here.
Below is a summary:
1. Residents on both sides agree that we need safer pedestrian and bike access along Highland Road.
2. Safety Studies show the Northside Trail is safest. The April 2024 Safety study shows the Northside significantly safer during the week and weekends. The July 2024 Safety study shows the Northside significantly safer on the weekends, and about the same during the week.
3. The Northside Trail is a considerable distance from the neighbors’ homes, while the Southside Trail is within 7 feet of the neighbors’ backyards.
4. All northside residents on Highland Road will have access to the trail and southside residents will gain access at marked, controlled crossings at Green Bay Road and River Road, with a proposed marked crossing for MATC.
5. There is full City Right of Way & authority to move forward on the northside. The path can only be on the northside from the OIT to Cedarburg Road due to Highland Woods trust agreement restrictions and there is no right of way authority from Cedarburg Rd to the Meadows subdivision on the southside. In addition, moving to the southside from Cedarburg Road to Rotary Park would result in two additional crossings for users coming from the OIT to Rotary Park.
6. In 2024, the Joint Mequon-Thiensville Bike and Pedestrian Way Commission hired GRAEF, a consulting firm, to prepare a 20-year vision for development of pedestrian and biking facilities throughout Mequon and Thiensville. In its November, 2024, draft they identified the entire segment of Highland Road from Port Washington Road to the OIT trail as a primary recommended east-west bike connection route. It also recommends it be a “sidepath” (off-road trail) due to traffic speed and volume. Keeping the trail on the northside would eventually link to the northside paths already constructed from Port Washington Road to Oriole Lane school to support this recommendation.
7. On December 10, 2024, MT Trails was granted an extension from WisDOT to submit an approved final design by March 25, 2025 to still obtain 2025 monies to complete the trail, Any additional delay will result in losing the $988,000 grant and reapplication funds would not be available until 2028, if approved at all. Not building a safe trail for the community’s benefit would set a dangerous precedent for the community’s efforts for safe pedestrian and bike facilities going forward.
2025YEAR FIVE
FINAL PLANS AND CONSTRUCTION BEGINS
There will be a public information meeting from 5-7 pm on Thursday, January 23rd, 2025 at City Hall to present the Northside Trail plans as developed by our design engineering consultant, Kapur Inc. They will be presenting the trail preliminary layout, with installation plans and other information. Please plan to attend!
Final design of the Northside Trail to be approved by March 25, 2025, with construction lets by May 25, 2025.
FUNDRAISING TO CONTINUE
We are getting closer! As of 1/1/2025 we have raised $1,300,000 towards our $1,531,000 goal. Keep checking back! Thanks for your interest and support!
TOTAL COSTS
Updated path costs as of 7/2022
| Construction of Path | |
| $1,060,000 | Paving boardwalks and construction |
| $106,000 | Engineering (10%) |
| $158,000 | Contingency |
| $1,324,000 | Total Construction Cost of Path |
| Signal Beacon | |
| $15,000 | LED lighted signal beacon with push button crosswalk |
| Endowment | |
| $100,000 | Covers ongoing maintenance and snow removal |
| Engineering Preliminary Work by Ayers Associates |
INCLUDES: Land architect preferred alignment plan Topographical survey estimate Wetland delineations CAD drafting of a 60% set of plan and profile sheets |
| $74,000 | Total Engineering Preliminary Work Incurred |
| $1,513,000 | TOTAL FUNDS NEEDED |
TOTAL FUNDS RAISED
AS OF 1/6/2025
$1,300,000
OF $1,513,000
Interested in supporting this project?
GET INVOLVED!
We encourage all citizens who are passionate about creating safe bike and pedestrian paths around our community to help us with this effort. To get involved or to ask specific questions email connect@mttrails.org or call 262-238-3803.
WAYS TO GIVE
Donations are accepted through our website and via mail. We also can accept gifts of appreciated stock.
Tap the LEARN MORE button below for more information about donating, or tap the DONATE NOW button to proceed directly to our online donation form and select "Bike Paths" in the dropdown menu for Area of Support.
"I walk almost daily during my lunch hour from the Gentian Building over to Rotary Park and the Wooded trail. I have to walk on the side of the road on Highland Rd to get there. I bike after work sometimes too and use the Interurban bike trail path but do NOT feel at all comfortable riding a bike on Highland Rd to get to the path. I usually now have my bike on my car and drive the 3/4 mile to the path entrance and park my car and start the biking from there. The path would be such a major improvement as I would not feel like I am about to get killed or have to be on constant alert for cars from both ways not seeing me."
Lisa Sheridan, Director of Client Operations, Gentian Financial
"Rotary Park is one of the many gems in our community. As a parent of small children, accessing our community on foot or on bicycles is important to keep our kids safe and to encourage healthy lifestyles for generations to come. An off road path connecting the Ozaukee Interurban Trail and Rotary Park would not only provide a safe route for families to access Rotary Park, but would also connect people in North Mequon to the Town Center District and Thiensville businesses."
Sam Azinger, Resident/Rotarian, chair of Chair-Mequon Thiensville Biking/Pedestrian Joint Commission and President of Rotary Club of Thiensville/Mequon
"Christ Alone Lutheran School sees the Ozaukee Interurban Trail as an asset for teaching our students about healthy living. Because it is located on the western edge of our property, we have easy access to it. We use the trail annually for our Run/Walk benefiting Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. We see the potential of using the trail for teaching about biking. Having the trail connect to Rotary Park would give a great destination and turn around point for our trips."
Paul Berger, Principal, Christ Alone Lutheran School in Thiensville
"For decades Gathering on the Green has put on our flagship event in Rotary Park. The park is a jewel in our community and we love showing it off to those who come to our events. The possibility of a bike path that would connect Rotary Park to the Ozaukee Interurban Trail is a dream come true. It would enable many more people to safely discover and explore the fantastic asset of our park."
Board of Directors, Gathering on the Green