Morris County residents who walk, bike or roll on local trails have until Monday, Sept. 7, 2026, to tell regional planners what needs fixing.
The North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority is running an online survey asking trail users in Morris, Passaic and Union counties to point out gaps, unsafe crossings and missing links between trails and the places people actually want to reach. Residents can take the survey online.
The results feed two active NJTPA studies. The Pompton Valley Rail Trail Extension Study is looking at connecting the trail’s northern end in Pequannock Township to the southern end of the Highlands Rail Trail in Wanaque Borough, and at linking the trail to the Mountain View Train Station in Wayne. The Traction Line Recreation Trail Extension Study is examining options to tie the Traction Line into Patriots’ Path and the Rahway Valley Rail Trail.
“Whether you walk or bike these trails regularly or just enjoy them from time to time, we want to hear from you. Your knowledge and experience of our trails helps us identify opportunities to improve safety and make our trail network even better,” said Morris County Commissioner Stephen H. Shaw, Third Vice Chair of the NJTPA Board of Trustees.
Planners say they want more than just the regular riders and runners. Residents who would walk or bike more often but run into barriers are being asked to flag the exact spots that stop them, whether that is a missing sidewalk, a rough crossing or a stretch that simply dead ends.
Patriots’ Path is the backbone of the county trail system, running more than 70 miles and linking parks, historic sites and open space across Morris County and into neighboring counties. Better connections between it and other trails would make those miles useful for everyday trips, not just weekend recreation.
The studies are being run in partnership with the North Jersey Trail Network initiative, led by the New Jersey Bike & Walk Coalition and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. More information on both studies is posted at njtpa.org/trails.
Photo: Morris County.
