The Wisconsin Department of Transportation is planning to extend the Hank Aaron bike trail from Miller Park to 94th Pl. next year, according to WisDOT official Donna Brown.

Kudos to WisDOT for that smart move. The trail should help spark development of some of its neighboring properties, which are now in “far from ideal use” category. It also will provide an alternative transportation means during reconstruction of the Zoo Interchange.

The trail is supposed to head further west, but the Zoo Interchange project will involve reconstructing several overpasses that run directly over the trail. It’s possible that the western section will be opened as a crushed limestone trail, but no decision has been made yet, officials said at the quarterly Story Hill Neighborhood Association meeting.

Hats off to State Sen. Jim Sullivan (D-Wauwatosa) and Milwaukee Ald. Michael Murphy, who pushed hard to get the state to take on this important project.