I am all for Rail Trails, I think they are a great thing, but...in our economic state of debt, it makes me angry that we are spending money on these.
I worked for a few years with a local group trying to get one built through my town, and after 25+ years of trying to plan and get it built, it went active just last year. I was responsible for getting all the property maps, piecing them into a large map to help identify where easements were and who “owned” them. It was interesting and fun and played to my strengths (I had graphic arts computer skills and a computer before many people did!) but I simply couldn’t go to the meetings time and time again at the glacial progress...I had a crushing job at the time, so I dropped out. I admire that they got it built.
That is all fine and dandy.
But our roads completely and totally suck in my town. I have some roads near me (town roads) that are in shameful condition...SHAMEFUL.
This is the 100% analog of a family in debt, behind on their mortgage six months, four credit cards maxed out, and they pay to have a swimming pool and deck installed!
Ah, but can they figure a way to generate significant money with the pool, quickly enough to be helpful?
It seems to me that in depth economic analysis needs to be done before starting such projects as Rail Trails - not just platitudes and generalities about benefits.
More precisely:
It seems to me that in depth economic analysis needs to be done before starting such projects as Rail Trails when public money is to be spent - not just platitudes and generalities about benefits.