Posted on 05/09/2019 5:23:46 AM PDT by SJackson
A coast-to-coast hiking and biking trail is almost a reality.
The proposed Great American Rail Trail, a multi-use trail that will run across multiple states, has been in development for several years. Today, the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) unveiled in a statement its preferred route for the trail, which will connect more than 125 existing trails and 90 trail gaps over 3,700 miles between Washington, D.C., and Washington State.
Originally envisioned in the 1980s, the RTC has been conducting a route assessment for the last 12 months, analyzing more than 34,000 miles of multi-use trails across the country and working with more than 200 local partners and 50 state agencies to plan the route. The proposed preferred route is planned to be one continuous route (or over 80 percent continuous) and entirely off-street, made up of almost all existing trails. Great American Rail-Trail Milo Bateman
“When defining the preferred route of the Great American Rail-Trail, we sought a cross-country route that would provide the highest-quality experience while delivering significant economic and social benefits to the communities it connects,” said Liz Thorstensen, vice president of trail development at RTC, in a statement.
The trail itself runs through 12 states including Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, and Washington State, plus Washington D.C.,
According to the RTC, nearly 50 million people living within 50 miles of the trail will be able to find new opportunities to explore the great outdoors once the trail is complete. The 3,700-mile trail will consist of 1,961 miles of existing trails and 1,782 miles of identified gaps (sections of trail in need of development to fully connect the Great American into one single route). These trail gaps also pose more opportunities for connecting trails in the future. From the sound of it, it’s sure to blow some of the best trails in the U.S. straight out of the water once complete. The Biggest Mistakes Hikers Make When They Get Lost on a Trail Whether you’re camping, hiking, or just exploring a national park, it’s important to know what to do if something goes wrong. You Might Like 4 Underrated National Parks for Your Next Trip 'Gramping' Is the Latest Travel Trend Grandparents Need to Know About
Plus, the RTC predicts that the Great American Rail Trail could potentially bring significant economic benefits to communities along the trail.
“[The Great American Rail Trail] magnifies on a grand scale the benefits that trails have delivered to communities for decades,” said Ryan Chao, president of RTC. “Whether bridging gaps within and between communities, creating safe walking and biking access to jobs, transit, shopping and green space; or serving as recreation for cyclists, runners and casual daily explorers, this will be America’s trail.” Great American Rail-Trail Hung Tran
At the moment, Washington D.C. and Maryland are the only parts of the trail that are 100 percent complete. The RTC predicts the trail completion is still “decades away,” but the whole of the trail is 52 percent complete.
The RTC has planned projects and initiatives to start making the Great American Rail Trail a reality. In addition to working with local and state partners, the organization is striving to reach one million pledges from outdoor lovers to help complete the massive trail project.
On May 8, the RTC will be hosting live events along the preferred route, which will also be broadcast live on the organization’s Facebook page and on its website from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. EST.
More information on the trail, live events, and how to make a pledge can be found on the Great American Rail Trail website.
Riding bicycles is key to health
The major health problem facing many people is obesity
Investing in paths for people to walk bike stroller skateboard or scooter are good for the community and good for people’s health
Far too much of life is now spent sitting in front have an iPhone or a computer and not doing things out of doors which benefits health
Your roads must be in a lot worse shape than ours. Other than perhaps bridges getting old, taken as a whole, general road maintenance seems no worse, or better, than the last 45 years or so. (As far back as I was doing much driving.) It’s always been “mediocre”. And there are always some forest roads and such that Fedzilla or Statezilla is slow to get to,
OTOH, here, we see road projects like a big, interstate style interchange on a (fairly busy, I will grant you) state highway to a local road that goes to... almost nothing. It’s between areas of light activity, in a general area losing population, with said local road ending, to the north, at a small area of rental units (condos & small homes, maybe 40 units) after passing by a handful of homes and small businesses), and to the south, a similar pass through of a few homes and small businesses, then entering a wildlife refuge and ending in a lake. Every time my wife and I pass by there, we marvel at the “interchange to nowhere”. I sort of understand the argument of “build it and development will follow”, and staying ahead of traffic needs, but this one is at least 10-15 years before that much “need” would even be in sight, unless we go on a 10% per year regional or State GDP tear... (Also NOT in sight — libs heavily in charge, here.)
So, why was it built? “Pork”, I am sure!
No, rowing is key to health. I want a nation wide rowing system developed and maintained by transportation dollars. No, skiing is key to health. I demand year round ski slopes be maintained out of transportation dollars. Just because YOU like to ride bicycles doesn’t mean tax dollars that ALL of us pay should be diverted to YOUR hobby at the expense of maintaining the infrastructure that we ALL use. If you’ll support sharing the bicycle investments with rowing, skiing, etc., etc. healthy investments I’ll accept that you are serious.
Actually, it is our town roads that are somewhat neglected. the state and interstate roads are not in bad shape (lot of repair and new construction)
LOL, I think it is getting to the point “A trillion here...”
Crap. Sounds like the Weimar Republic.
well this may not be good for me!! My annual trip to asia flying out of Chicago is about $500 cheaper than flying out of Detroit. Currently Amtrak price one way from Detroit to Chicago is $35... $70 rnd trip. If this plan goes thru, I predict my train cheat will probably quadruple in price! :/
I actually like the idea as a walker
One near Damascus VA is a great one
Indeed I did. Thanks.
L
The state of Washington wanted to convert a rail line to a trail until the land owner pointed out that eminent domain contract stated that if the rail line was abandoned as a rail line, the property would revert back to the land owner.
I’m a member of the Conservancy but I say right up front in my Rails to Trails profile that I believe the Sierra Club and some other “preservation” groups have a net negative effect upon the environment.
I regularly inline skate and skateboard land paddle on the Fall Line Trace in Columbus, Georgia which is across the river from my Alabama home. I also bicycle on other rail trails.
I wonder if any of that is local roads’ funds being tapped for underfunded pensions? You literally can’t turn around without finding not 1 more, but 10 more local gov’t employee pension plans in deep doo-doo.
Then again, I still see no major decline in local roads — some areas are poor, yes, but that’s always been the case. The alley behind my place is bad, but, then again, it too has been up and down over the years. The population along it has declined by at ~50% too — kinda hard for the city to make it high priority, I suppose.
Granted that this is just my own personal observation, and may not be typical. Near here is a county actually growing a bit, and while there is quite a bit of new road construction at all levels, some of the small county roads seem worse than usual.
Sigh. I would have to be pretty dense to not consider that, especially in this state...
That’s the Virginia Creeper Trail.
Abingdon to Damascus to Whitetop. A to D is a good walker. D to W is 3% grade most of the way up.
Scout troops start at Whitetop and never pedal on the way down to Damascus.
Yep. Here too. Talk about the gorilla in the room! :-(
“...all the small things that have stakeholders who think their small thing is no big deal.”
It’s death by a thousand (billion) cuts. One of these days the country’s gonna hit that hard wall, and I hate to say it...there will be no real effort to stop it because the politicians will be too busy blaming the “other” side. Any effort at reform will just lead to more pork barrel. I think we are past the point of financial redemption.
I think when that happens those people are going to abscond with wealth and disappear somewhere.
Oh well. What are ya gonna do?
#9 John Wayne trail. You had to battle indians and cut throats and bike robbers along the trail.
Another great rail trail in Durham NC if you are faster than the muggers https://www.wral.com/residents-question-safety-of-american-tobacco-trail-after-series-of-crimes-/16778473/
And I care, WHY?
We used to have a home at the top near Grandfather
I walked that trail near Abingdon quite a bit
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.