When the City of Fishers rejected the idea of using the Nickel Plate Rail Line as both a rail line for trains and a trail, officials argued that they had studied the option and found it not to be feasible.  That led to the release of a study Friday by an Indianapolis engineering firm that put a price tag on the rails plus trails option of at least $20.5 million on top of whatever the trail ends up costing the city.

The Save The Nickel Plate organization, which has advocated either just preserving the rails for train activity, or a combination of a train rail line and a trail, has responded to the city’s release of the engineering study.

Save the Nickel Plate points to the engineering study using right of way requirements of 60-75 feet after the city FAQ has cited an industry standard of 120 feet.

The group repeated an assertion that a study by the Hoosier Heritage Port Authority (a joint body representing the various governmental bodies in Hamilton County) about the condition of the train tracks along the Nickel Plate line has “significant life remaining” with the existing rails.

The response also takes issue with the city’s engineering report claiming drainage improvements would be required to keep the train tracks viable.

The response does not directly address the $20.5 million in additional costs cited by the city’s engineering report, but Save the Nickel Plate says it has “partnered with other entities to commission its own analysis that is currently underway. We anticipate our privately funded study will be completed and released in the next 45 days. We look forward to comparing the conclusions of our study with the one published by Fishers.”

The City of Fishers released the engineer’s report, according to a city news release, to address “continued inaccuracies shared to the media by train advocate groups” that the city did not properly study a rails plus trails option for the Nickel Plate.

The Fishers City Council included in the 2019 city budget a $15 million bond issue to fund the construction of the first phase on the Nickel Plate Trail and some road projects.  The city estimates just under $10 million of that bond issue will go toward funding the first phase of the trail.  Construction is expected to begin on the Nickel Plate Trail this fall.