Rails-with-Trails: Lessons Learned

SECTION II: Case Studies (cont.)

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

Lehigh River Gorge Trail
Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania

STATUS Existing, opened 1972

Lehigh River Gorge Trail, adjacent to the Reading and Northern Railroad Company tracks. Jim Thorpe, PA

DESCRIPTION The entire length of the trail is 40 km (25 mi) long, with the southern 9.7 km (6 mi) being an RWT facility. The Reading and Northern Railroad Company (RNRC) operates between two and six freight trains per day on the tracks at speeds between 40 to 64 km/h (25 to 40 mi/h).

DESIGN The trail has a crushed-stone surface and generally is 3 m (10 ft) wide with a few areas that are wider. About 3.7 to 5.5 m (12 to 18 ft) separates the track centerline from the trail in most areas, although setback is as little as 2.3 m (7.5 ft) in places. For about half the length of the trail, 1.5 to 2.4 m (5 to 8 ft) of vertical grade separation lays between the tracks and the adjacent trail. No fencing is used.

PROBLEMS The area used for the trail previously served as an access road to the railroad and facilitated illegal dumping. Since the trail was established, the illegal dumping has ceased.

Officials report no trespasser-train incidents. However, railroad officials unofficially note "close call" incidents and express concerns about continued trespassing problems.

OTHER Bike rental companies in the area give users a safety speech that includes warnings about the track.

Mission City Trail
City of San Fernando, California

STATUS Existing, opened 1990s

DESCRIPTION This 1.6 km (1 mi) shared use path traverses through the City of San Fernando, in the northern portion of Los Angeles County. The Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCCRA) runs 26 Metrolink passenger trains traveling at 127 km/h (79 mi/h). Five freight trains also travel in the corridor at 80 km/h (50 mi/h). The number of trains is expected to increase.

DESIGN The trail is a concrete pathway, 2.4 m (8 ft) wide with 0.9 m (3 ft) shoulders, that meanders within a 6 m (20 ft) section of the right-of-way along the eastern edge of the railway. It connects to a Metrolink station within the City of Los Angeles. The trail is setback at least 7.6 m (25 ft) from the track centerline and separated by a 1.8 m (6 ft) high fence (part chain link, part wrought iron). It is enhanced with shrubs, trees, and signs. The City designed and installed self-closing stop gates at several at-grade crossings to slow bicyclists prior to crossing major roadways. The trail is lit and allows night use.

PROBLEMS Vandalism and trespassing problems reportedly have decreased since the trail was developed.

Mission City Rail Trail along the Metrolink commuter rail line.
San Fernando, CA

Northeast Corridor Trail
Newark, Delaware

STATUS Planned, not built as of June 2002

DESCRIPTION The Northeast Corridor is a planned 2.7 km (1.7 mi) asphalt shared use path adjacent to Amtrak's Northeast Corridor main line. The trail setting includes a mixture of parkland, urban, and industrial land uses along the trail. The City of Newark owns some of the land and will lease property for the remainder. Up to 100 passenger and freight trains operate per day, some at speeds in excess of 161 km/h (100 mi/h). Amtrak's high speed Acela trains are expected to travel at speeds upwards of 193 km/h (120 mi/h). The Amtrak track is closest to the planned trail, and is shared with commuter trains operated by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA).

DESIGN As required by the contract, the City will install and maintain a chain link fence along the entire trail corridor. The minimum planned setback is 9.1 m (30 ft) between the track centerline and edge of the trail.

PROBLEMS The speed of the trains in relatively close proximity to the trail is a concern. An additional concern is the potential for trespasser casualties via fence breaks. Maintenance of fencing is a major challenge along the Northeast Corridor.

OTHER This proposed RWT has gone through an extensive public process to build support for the trail. An advisory committee provided input regarding trail development.

Norwottuck Rail Trail, Connecticut River Greenway State Park
Hampshire County, Massachusetts

STATUS Existing, opened 1994

DESCRIPTION The Norwottuck Rail Trail travels 16 km (10 mi) in the communities of Northampton, Hadley, Amherst, and Belchertown. In 1984, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, through the Department of Environmental Management (DEM), purchased the corridor for the purpose of building a rail-trail. The towns of Amherst and Belchertown own 1.9 km (1.2 mi) at the eastern end. The first segment of trail from Northampton to Amherst opened in 1993, and the eastern extension to Belchertown opened in 1997. More than 300,000 people use the trail annually.

The eastern section of the Norwottuck Rail Trail is adjacent to a separate right-of-way owned and operated by the New England Railroad (NECR), formerly the Central Vermont Railway. Amtrak Vermonter also operates two trains a day. The right-of-way of the active railroad is 20 m (66 ft) wide.

DESIGN Two at-grade road crossings intersect the trail. One crossing is equipped with active warning devices, lights, and bells. The other (a semi-private grade crossing used primarily as an access road by the Town of Amherst's Water Department) only has passive warning devices. The latter does have whistle markers alerting the NECR and Amtrak engineers to sound the horn. No sign alerts trail users to the possibility of a train, although no attractive destinations encourage crossing.

The 3 m (10 ft) wide paved trail is situated 9.8 m (32 ft) from the centerline of the nearby tracks. There is no fencing between the trail and railroad where the rights-of-way are parallel.

PROBLEMS Officers report that the adjacent rail line has no reported incidents of trespassing.

Platte River Multi-Use Trail
Denver County, Colorado

STATUS Existing, opened 1980

Platte River Trail. Denver County, CO

DESCRIPTION The Platte River Multi-Use Trail, built around 1980, extends from downtown Denver along the Platte River. The trail abuts the Denver Regional Transit District's track, with an active trolley operation, for approximately 1.6 km (1 mi). The trail is owned and managed by the Denver Department of Parks and Recreation. Average train speed on the line is 16 km/h (10 mi/h).

DESIGN The 2.4 to 3 m (8 to 10 ft) wide concrete path is set back at least 7.6 m (25 ft) from the centerline of the nearest track. No fencing separates the trail and tracks. There are two at-grade crossings with passive warning signs and striping.

PROBLEMS The presence of homeless people is a notable problem in the corridor, although not directly related to the trail. No trail-related lawsuits have been filed against the City or railroad. Officials report decreased trespassing on the tracks since the trail installation.

OTHER Railroad construction and maintenance require periodic closure of the trail. The Denver Parks and Recreation Department provides maintenance and snow removal. Denver Urban Drainage and Flood Control provides landscape maintenance. The Denver Police Department provides security through spot checks and on an emergency response basis.

Railroad Trail
Gaylord, Michigan

STATUS Existing, opened 1990s

The 22-mile Railroad Trail located along the Lake State Railroad. Gaylord, MI

DESCRIPTION The Railroad Trail is the first and only RWT in Michigan. It is a 35 km (22 mi) snowmobile trail and is part of a 90 km (56 mi) corridor. The Lake State Railroad operates up to five freight trains per week at speeds of 40 to 64 km/h (25 to 40 mi/h).

It officially is a snowmobile trail but nonmotorized uses are permitted. Up to 6,000 people use the trail on winter weekends.

DESIGN The trail is unpaved and looks little like a trail in summer months. Signage reminds trail users to stay off railroad tracks. Separation varies from less than 0.9 m to 10 m (3 to 30 ft).

PROBLEMS Officials report that the trail has relieved trespassing problems for the railroad by up to 90 percent. In particular, they have seen reduced snowmobile use on the tracks and a cleaner right-of-way due to snowmobile club maintenance activity. According to the sheriff, snowmobiles regularly cross the tracks to access a frozen lake.

OTHER The legislature passed a special act to allow this RWT. The legislation applies only to this trail and sets the terms of trail operation from December 1 through March 31. It took almost six years of negotiation with the railroad company and the legislature to establish the trail, first on a trial basis, then permanently. However, the Lake State Railroad was not involved in the decision to go from trial to permanent status. Lake State Railroad officials express support for the RWT as well as concern about potential liability in the case of a serious incident. The snowmobile club carries a $2 million insurance policy.

Snowmobile users pay a mandatory registration fee and a trail fee of $10. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources gives the managing organization, Alpine Snowmobile Trails, Inc., an annual maintenance grant of $250 per mile per year. The grant helps supplement volunteer labor used to maintain the trail and area near the tracks.