State aid totaling $2 million is no longer available for construction of a North Shore bike trail because LIPA will not grant land ownership, claim Suffolk County officials.

The proposed 11-mile biking and hiking trail would stretch from Port Jefferson Station to Wading River Manor Road. The path would be located through a Wading River railroad line that is no longer being used. The right of way is 100 feet wide and is currently owned by LIPA. Suffolk County has asked LIPA for 30 feet to construct the trail, but they claim LIPA no longer wants to participate after four years of talks.

Local community leaders believe the situation is unfair to the many residents who would benefit from the trail.

Leg. Daniel Losquadro (R-Shoreham) said that for the past four years, LIPA told the county they would grant ownership of the land. LIPA claims they have a way to make the project work. "Bike paths are good, but you've got to be careful when you have rights of way issues," LIPA CEO Richard Kessel said. "Lines and wires and other things, you have to be careful. But having said that, I think it's a worthy cause and we will work with them to see that it happens."

LIPA officials have agreed to sit down and talk about plans at the Wading River Civic Association meeting on June 28th.