The City of Fishers is moving full speed ahead with plans for the Nickel Plate Trail.  The trail is to be on the Nickel Plate Rail Line running through downtown Noblesville south through Fishers to 96th Street.

The Fishers Board of Public Works and Safety approved two contracts Monday with private firms tasked with planning for the trail, with very little discussion.

NBBJ will be paid $163,000 to handle architecture and design.  EX2 will perform branding and communications for a price tag of $112,000.

The city is expected to begin scheduling public input sessions on the trail in the coming weeks.

Mayor Scott Fadness told the City Council Finance Committee August 10th that he and his staff are projecting a 5.5 cent property tax rate increase (per $100 of assessed valuation) as part of the 2019 budget.  He expects most of that money to go toward renovation of city fire houses, but a portion of that money, the mayor said, will go toward funding the Nickel Plate Trail.

The Nickel Plate has been the center of controversy for many years and advocates of keeping the line for trains continue to oppose the trail.  However, the city continues to plan for the line as a trail.