Rails-with-Trails: Lessons Learned

SECTION II: Case Studies (cont.)

Case Study Summaries < 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 >

Coastal Rail Trail
Cities of Oceanside, Carlsbad, Encinitas, Solana Beach, Del Mar, San Diego, and San Diego County, California

STATUS Planned, not built as of June 2002

Future trail alignment of the Coastal Rail Trail extension adjacent to the Coastline tracks. Carlsbad, CA

DESCRIPTION This planned 3.7 m (12 ft) wide shared use path will be located within the San Diego Northern Railway right-of-way and will traverse from Oceanside to San Diego. It will connect commuter rail and transit stations for 53 km (33 mi) of the total 71 km (44 mi) high speed intercity and commuter rail corridor. The North County Transit District (NCTD) operates 18 "Coasters" per day Monday through Friday and eight "Coasters" per day on Saturday. Amtrak operates 22 "Pacific Surfliners" per day. These trains operate at speeds up to 145 km/h (90 mi/h). Five freight trains and up to 48 San Diego Trolley trains operate on a weekly basis at 80 km/h (50 mi/h) and between 48 to 64 km/h (30 to 40 mi/h), respectively. Construction of the trail is expected to commence in 2003.

An estimated 28,500 daily and 7,080,000 annual users are projected on the trail. The right-of-way is owned and managed by the NCTD and the Metropolitan Development Board. The responsible agency for management of the trail has not been identified yet.

DESIGN The setback distance still is under discussion as of this writing due to the relatively high speed of the trains, future potential track expansion, railroad maintenance needs, and security concerns. Trail users likely will be separated from the tracks by, depending on the section, fencing, grade variations, vegetation, and other barriers.

PROBLEMS Running parallel to the ocean, the tracks are frequently crossed by trespassers to access the beach.

OTHER Six cities joined efforts and together prepared a feasibility study, completed in January 1999. The six cities, the two railroad companies, NCTD, and Metropolitan Transit District, collaboratively developed the project study report and a Memorandum of Understanding. The Memorandum binds the parties to cooperatively plan a trail within the active railroad right-of-way. This process has included more than three years of monthly meetings.

Columbus Riverwalk (Chattahoochee Trail)
Columbus, Georgia

STATUS Existing, opened 1990s

NOTE (April 21, 2006): The Georgia Department of Transportation acquired this railroad corridor and leases it to the Georgia Southwestern Railroad. Modifications have been proposed (and some completed) along the river walk and to the railroad crossings since this report was published.

This case study is an example of a sidewalk facility as it existed when this report was developed. The Georgia Department of Transportation notes this case study is not a recommended practice, and has proceeded with several modifications to this facility.

DESCRIPTION The Columbus Riverwalk is approximately 25.7 km (16 mi) of trail adjacent to the Chattahoochee River from the Lake Oliver Walkway to Fort Benning. About 1.6 km (1 mi) of the trail is located on Norfolk Southern property. The tracks are leased by the Railtex/GATX/Georgia Southwestern Railroad Company. The Consolidated Government of Columbus operates the trail. Freight trains are the primary users of the tracks and run infrequently, mostly in the spring when the river is high enough so barges can bring petroleum products up to the docks for further transport by rail. The trains travel at speeds less than 16 km/h (10 mi/h).

DESIGN The 3.0 to 3.7 km (10 to 12 ft) concrete walkway is 3 to 9.1 m (10 to 30 ft) from the tracks, with nominal vertical separation and no fencing. The trail is lit at night although there is not much use after 11 p.m.

Columbus Riverwalk (Chattahoochee Trail) segment located along Norfolk Southern tracks. Columbus, GA
Railroad crossing as originally constructed. [Photo inserted April 21, 2006]	Modified crossing (January 11, 2006) [Photo inserted April 21, 2006]

PROBLEMS Officials report no trespassing and/or vandalism incidents along the rail corridor.

OTHER This is a multi-phase project: phases one and two are development of the river-walk, while phase three is the planned acquisition and development of a trail and trolley from the riverwalk to Columbus State University and the Peach Tree Mall with future plans to extend the trail 56 km (35 mi) to Warm Springs.

Cottonbelt Trail
Grapevine, Texas

STATUS 4 km (2.5 mi) opened 2000

DESCRIPTION The 16 km (10 mi) long Cottonbelt Trail is a multi-phase, multi-jurisdictional trail that comprises a piece of the Dallas-Fort Worth bicycle trail system called "Veloweb." A 4 km (2.5 mi) section of the 16 km (10 mi) path has been completed. The track, owned by the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), is leased to a short line company -- Fort Worth and Western Railroad -- which uses the track for tourist excursions and weekend dinner trips. Freight activity involves two trains per day. Train speeds do not exceed 48 km/h (30 mi/h). Each city involved in the project will own and manage the trail within their respective jurisdiction.

DESIGN The track is adjacent to residential areas and several large open fields. The trail maintains 7.6 m (25 ft) setback from track centerline to the edge of the trail.

PROBLEMS According to the railroad, trespassing is not a problem.

Existing segment of the Cottonbelt Trail along the DART tracks. Grapevine, TX

OTHER Initially, project planners overlooked the fact that part of the trail fell in the railroad right-of-way. Subsequent policy changes by DART allowed for trail use within their right-of-way. The City of Grapevine has a five-year lease, with option for renewal, from DART. Also, because Explorer Pipeline Company has a pipeline under the trail, a special design enables a section of the trail to be lifted during pipeline repairs.

A DART official noted benefits in terms of reduced costs of right-of-way maintenance, now undertaken by the City, but expressed concern about potential liability costs, even with the City assuming liability. A law enforcement official noted the trail's popularity and anticipated no increase in costs.

Five Star Trail
Youngwood to East Huntingdon, Pennsylvania

STATUS Planned, not built as of June 2002

Future site of the Five Star Trail along the Westmoreland County train tracks. Youngwood, PA

DESCRIPTION This trail project is a 9.7 km (6 mi) extension to the existing 8 km (5 mi) Five Star Trail, currently the third most popular recreational facility in Westmoreland County. The Regional Trail Corporation manages the existing trail through a lease agreement with the Westmoreland County Industrial Development Corporation, which owns and operates the railroad. The track currently has two trains per day on weekdays, with up to four additional trains on weekend days. Maximum train speeds are 40 km/h (25 mi/h). Freight trains are the predominate users of the track followed by weekend excursion trains.

DESIGN The trail extension will be 3 m (10 ft) wide with a crushed limestone surface. The minimum setback will be 3.7 m (12 ft) from the center of the track, with additional setback distance provided whenever possible.

PROBLEMS Trespassing is a concern in the corridor where the trail extension is proposed. Currently, people on motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles use the area.

OTHER Establishing a good working relationship and open communication between the trail managers and railroad company led to the success of the existing section of the Five Star Trail. It also has provided a framework toward a successful, multi-jurisdictional planning process for the trail extension.

Kennebec River Rail-Trail
Augusta, Hallowell, Farmingdale, and Gardiner, Maine

STATUS: 2 km (1.2 mi) opened October 2001

Built portion of the Kennebec River Trail. Farmingdale, ME

DESCRIPTION: The Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT) opened the first 2 km (1.2 mi) of the 10.5 km (6.5 mi) of the Kennebec River Rail Trail (KRRT) in the fall of 2001. The driving force behind trail development and construction is a consortium of KRRT Board of Supervisors members appointed by the four towns, as well as a nonprofit group called the Friends of the KRRT. The Board of Supervisors is responsible for overseeing the construction and management of the trail, while the Friends group is involved with trail fund raising, promotion, and maintenance. Volunteer project support has been tremendous and well organized. MDOT is committed to seeing the project succeed and has been aiding in the development, approval, and construction phases. In 1990, the State of Maine purchased the rail line from the Maine Coast Railroad, which no longer operates in the corridor. A short line operator, Safe Handling Rail, Inc., is contracted to operate trains at 40 to 48 km/h (25 to 30 mi/h). However, no trains have operated since January 2001 due to construction and management issues. Service is expected to resume in 2003.

DESIGN: The trail will be 3 m (10 ft) in width with 0.3 m (1 ft) shoulders. The surface treatment will be either bituminous pavement or stone dust. Projected use is 750 trail users per day. Along much of the corridor, the trail will be set back 4.1 m (13.5 ft) from track centerline. In a 300 m (1,000 ft) constrained area, the trail will be narrowed to 1.8 m (6 ft) in width and maintain a separation of 3.8 m (12.4 ft) setback, with a 2.4 m (8 ft) chain fence.

PROBLEMS: Trespassing during the winter by snowmobiles riding on the tracks has been a problem in the past.

OTHER: Opponents insist that the proposed trail cannot be safely located within the rail right-of-way given the perceived narrow setback distances. They dispute most of the State's assertions about process, design, and liability. They also are concerned that the trail's proximity is incompatible with passenger rail, which they are promoting for future operation in the corridor. More information about the trail is online at www.KRRT.org.

La Crosse River State Trail
La Crosse, Wisconsin

STATUS Existing, opened 1987

DESCRIPTION The La Crosse River State Trail serves as a 34 km (21 mi) connector between the Elroy-Sparta and Great River Trails. The State of Wisconsin owns the railroad right-of-way. Freight and Amtrak trains run about 16 times daily, at speeds of up to 129 km/h (80 mi/h).

The trail is lightly used relative to other area trails, despite the fact that it traverses diverse, exceptionally beautiful terrain. The trail passes through several small towns with local bars and restaurants that welcome trail users.

DESIGN For most of its length, marshland, grass-filled ditches, and prairie separate the trail from the track centerline by approximately 30 m (100 ft) or more.

Riding alongside a freight train on the La Crosse River State Trail. La Crosse, WI

PROBLEMS Authorities report no current trail-related trespassing activities. In the past, trail users trespassed on the tracks when moving between the Great River and the La Crosse River trails. The State solved this by adding an overpass with signing that directs users between trails.

Vandalism and illegal motorized vehicles are problems on the trail. A special agreement in the contract allows the State to install fencing for adjacent landowners outside of the right-of-way for those who request it. Landowners, however, must sign an agreement to maintain the fence for 20 years.

OTHER The State surfaced and signed the trail twelve years after it purchased the right-of-way in 1978.