January 2013 - RTC TrailBlog

There's a powerful Pacific Northwest vibe on this trail -- leaping coho salmon, bald eagles, stores selling growlers of IPA, snowy peaks in the distance and the grey-blue icy waters of the Pilchuck and Stillaguamish rivers.

Since its first phase opened in 1991, the Centennial Trail in Snohomish County, Wash., has grown in length and reputation to now attract more than 500,000 users each year. Its appeal with bikers, hikers, bladers and horseback riders is now set to expand even further with the extension of the trail another four miles, to a historic barn on farmland near the Skagit County line.

Along a Burlington Northern railroad corridor that had sat disused since 1970, the area's original trails-activism group, the Pathways Task Force, succeeded mightily in pushing ahead a rail-trail which is now one of the county's iconic attractions as well as a much-loved resource for locals.

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's Graphic Designer, Barbara Richey, based in Seattle, made the short trip north last summer for a day on the Centennial Trail and shot these photos (click the photo, above right, for a slideshow of more images) of a trail which is clearly deserving of its popularity.

"There's a lot to be impressed by on the Centennial Trail," Richey says. "Beautiful countryside and small towns, a wide path with gentle curves -- it's perfect for an afternoon outing. Everyone seems to move at their own pace, and although there were lots of people on the trail that day it never felt congested. It's fantastic that it has now been extended."

Photo by RTC

In the township of Springfield, in eastern Pennsylania, local trail supporters were able to hire an engineering firm to help them build a bridge on the Indian Creek Hike & Bike Trail. Across the state in Dunbar, the local historical society got the small amount of money it needed to build two sheltered picnic tables and install them alongside the Sheepskin Trail. In Pittsburgh, Friends of the Riverfront was able to pay for the design and installation of six new map signs and two interpretive panels along the trail Three Rivers Heritage Trail.

These projects, and many others, were made possible by the Trail Mini-Grant Program for Pennsylvania Rail-Trails. Managed by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC), this funding source helps trail organizations or municipalities in Pennsylvania that need to make small repairs or improvements to their trail, for dollar amounts typically well below that requested in major grants.

Applications are now being accepted for the 2013 round of Trail Mini-Grant Program grants, and must be submitted before the February 28 deadline.

Last year's grant awards ranged from $759 to $8,000, with volunteer labor and donated materials and services counted toward the necessary matching funds.

Application forms and guidelines can be found at www.railstotrails.org. For more information or assistance contact RTC program manager in the Northeast, Pat Tomes, at pat@railstotrails.org, or 717.467.4024.

Photo courtesy Mountain Watershed Association

Terrific news out of Holliston, Mass., this week, with the generous donation of a parcel of land to make possible the continued development of the Upper Charles Rail Trail.

The Upper Charles Rail Trail is being developed in sections as the land and funding becomes available, driven by a strong local group of volunteers always willing to roll the sleeves up. When complete it will run through Sherborn, Holliston, Milford, Hopkinton and Ashland in eastern Massachusetts.

According to this story at Metro West Daily News, The Fredy and Regula Lienhard Foundation has donated a portion of the trail corridor that runs from South Street to the Milford town line.

"(The foundation) basically donated the land so we can build the trail on that," said Robert Weidknecht, of the Holliston Trails Committee.

Local trail advocates are now hoping some of that generosity might rub off on CSX, the railroad company which owns other significant sections of the planned trail.

"We hope to find the money to purchase the other two pieces from CSX," Weidknecht said. "We know they want to sell them. It's getting the money that is difficult."

Photo courtesy Friends of the Holliston Trails

In the ongoing conversation about why Americans need more biking and walking options in their transportation infrastructure, often the "it feels good," "it's better for the environment," or "it's better for your health" arguments unfortunately don't carry a lot of weight.

But you start talking economics, and wealth, and industry, and people tend to listen, particularly those elected officials and business leaders who are often difficult to engage on more "esoteric" concepts.

One of the most persuasive arguments in support of more appropriate investment in walking and biking infrastructure has been its direct connection to real estate values. The American Association of Homebuilders has long recorded that access to a nearby trail is one of the amenities most desired by new homebuyers, and all across America neighborhoods and cities are booming or tanking based on how well they accommodate people who don't want to rely on a car to get around.

A brand new web service called Bike Score is now set to increase the pressure on planners to be more conscious of bike connectivity. Brought to you by the same people who launched Walk Score in 2007, Bike Score ranks a city, or neighborhood within a city, based on the availability of bike lanes, hilliness, the number of bikeable destinations and the level of commuting.

According to this article at www.fastcoexist.com, Bike Score cofounder John Herst says the new service is aimed at home-seekers who want to be less car-dependent. He hopes a greater focus on the connection between convenient bike pathways and real estate desirability will encourage more competition between planners to build bike friendly communities. So do we.

(Minneapolis is Number 1, by the way. How does your city fare?)

The state of California is a unique bird, particularly when it comes to transportation planning. A massive space populated with a mixture of booming metropolises, sprawling suburbs, and sparse rural areas, the Golden State's dire financial straits of late have made solving its intense congestion, connectivity and public health challenges all the more difficult, and important.

The good news is that Governor Jerry Brown's administration is conscious that active transportation infrastructure - trails, sidewalks, bike paths and pedestrian connections - can play an enormous role in improving California's transportation system, not to mention the health and wellbeing of its residents.

Enter RTC. Over the past few months, the director of our Western Region office, Laura Cohen, has been working as part of a powerful Caltrans working group of transportation experts tasked by Gov. Brown to make recommendations on how California should invest its funding from the new federal transportation bill, MAP-21. An important part of that discussion is how to make biking and walking a better option, to take some pressure off the state's overloaded roadways.

"One of the key issues for the governor and the legislature is how we can use the flexibility in MAP-21 to steer our transportation investments to achieve some major California policy priorities, like reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving public health and reducing traffic congestion," Cohen says. "Creating bikeable, walkable communities, and improving safety for bicyclists and pedestrians, will help us get there. In our state, 27 percent of all traffic fatalities are pedestrians and bicyclists - nearly twice the national average - and we need to address that. The new bill gives us a new landscape, and everyone is still trying to map out the best way forward."

Cohen says that while it is exciting to see the state government seek the advice of groups like RTC, Safe Routes to School National Partnership and the California Bicycle Coalition, it is also a nervous time for active transportation advocates.

"The Business, Transportation and Housing Agency has floated the idea of taking all the federal funds and the state level programs for biking, walking and trails and rolling them all into one account - an Active Transportation Account," Cohen says. "We expect this proposal will be included in the Governor's budget proposal, due out January 10. This could be a great opportunity to both increase efficiency and expand funding for active transportation investment from new sources like cap and trade auction revenue, so we are happy to be working with the administration on this proposal. But there is also real uncertainty with this. Will the state commit to maintaining and growing the state funded programs? Will the project selection process be transparent, inclusive and equitable? Making sure the state doesn't dilute these already thin funding sources is one of the challenges our coalition faces."

One of the strongest arguments for more investment in trails, biking and walking is the real-world success of existing trails networks in California. RTC played a prominent role in recently developed, and still expanding, trails systems in the San Francisco Bay region (above left), the San Gabriel Valley, San Diego and Santa Cruz, in addition to the enormous success of Nonmotorized Transportation Pilot Program investments in Marin County (top). These projects have boosted enthusiasm for more of the same, and demonstrated to planners and law makers, as well as local residents and businesspeople, the benefits of better options for biking and walking.

RTC and the coalition of active transportation advocates is due to send their recommendation to the state legislature later this month. How lawmakers respond represents a critical moment. At stake is many millions of dollars of investment in California's active transportation infrastructure, and potentially a path toward a healthier, more equitable, and more sustainable transportation system.

Photo of Cal Park Hill Tunnel courtesy MCBC
Photo of Bayshore Bikeway courtesy www.TrailLink.com

RECEIVE RAILROAD ABANDONMENT NOTICES FOR YOUR STATE VIA E-MAIL

On or about January 4, 2013, BNSF Railway Company filed for the abandonment of 14.5 miles of track between Farmington and Dunfermline within Fulton County, Illinois. We are providing this information because it presents an opportunity to develop a real regional asset: a multi-use trail that can accommodate hikers, bikers, equestrians and other appropriate uses.

NEXT STEPS: If this corridor is suitable for trail use, we strongly urge local trail advocates, or an appropriate local, regional or state agency or organization, to take action now. A "boiler plate" letter (found here) can be filed with the Surface Transportation Board (STB) and the abandoning railroad using STB docket number AB-6 (sub-no. 486x). Filing this letter does not commit its authors to acquire the corridor; it merely gives time to develop a rail-trail proposal and undertake negotiations with the railroad. According to the information we have received, the deadline for filing this letter is February 3, 2013. Even if this deadline is missed, there is probably still time to contact the relevant parties, since the railroad may have experienced a delay in filing all of the paperwork, or the STB may still have jurisdiction over the corridor. However, it is important to take prompt action. The STB posts all abandonment decisions and filings on its Web site, including the complete filing for this corridor. More information on the rail corridor, including a map, can be found in this filing.

The STB has imposed a $200 filing fee for all railbanking requests. Entities filing a railbanking request may request a fee waiver or reduction, and government agencies will receive an automatic fee waiver. Throughout the process, make sure local government officials and citizen activists are kept informed of the project's progress. We also recommend contacting your state trails coordinator or your state bicycle/pedestrian coordinator.

Both of these individuals are knowledgeable about state laws and resources and may be able to assist your community with this rail-trail project. Also, you may want to contact the abandoning railroad to add your name to their service list.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AVAILABLE: RTC's Web site may provide valuable tools as you plan for a rail-trail, including how-to manuals, the Trail-Building Toolbox, our Publications Library and the Trails & Greenways Listserv for trail advocates and professionals. These resources can be found within the "Trail-Building" section of our Web site. If you take advantage of this information and other resources promptly, you will be well on your way to creating a successful rail-trail in your community. For more information, or if you decide to pursue railbanking, please contact Eric Oberg at eric@railstotrails.org.

The state of Pennsylvania continues to build upon and improve its already impressive rail-trail network. Millersburg Borough is this week celebrating the news that a "gaming grant," funded by revenue from state-licensed casinos, will fund the continued construction of the Lykens Valley Rail Trail, a planned 20-mile multi-use trail that's been under development for about 10 years.

Just a stone's throw from RTC's Northeast regional office in Camp Hill, the development of this rail-trail along the former Lykens Valley Railroad comes as the residents of nearby Lewisburg begin to calculate the tremendous popularity and impact of the relatively new Buffalo Valley Rail Trail. A recent study by researchers at Bucknell University found that the 9.2-mile trail between Lewisburg and Mifflinburg has the potential to bring an estimated $280,925 annually to recreational business in the area.

The once booming anthracite coal industry in the region left many miles of rail corridor suitable for trail development. A few miles to the east of the Lykens Valley Rail Trail is the rough but ready Swatara Rail Trail; to the south is the Stony Valley Railroad Grade (above). Further afield in every direction are rail-trails of all sizes and styles, boosting hopes of local businesspeople and officials that this neck of the woods will continue to develop a sustainable economy around trails tourism.

Great work, P.A. 

Photo courtesy www.traillink.com