RTC TrailBlog : management maintenance

The Sum of Its Parts: Small Group Makes Big Progress on Massachusetts Rail-Trail

Jake Lynch — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 16:00:00 GMT

After nearly two decades of dedication and perseverance, a small group of volunteers continues to make great strides in the development of the North Central Pathway, connecting two historical north-central Massachusetts towns. The committee of local citizens, formed back in 1995 to develop and promote the trail, remains active today.

"We started with a group of about 20 people and are now down to a core group of six people all dedicated to making it to the end," says Cindy Boucher, the Winchendon co-chair for the North Central Pathway. "They each do their own special thing: one does the maintenance, another stocks brochures, one takes photos, I coordinate with the engineers...between the six of us, we manage to get things done."

Even Ludger Robichaud, a resident of the city since 1937, still does maintenance on the trail and serves as the Gardner co-chair for the North Central Pathway. He has bicycled all around the country and attributes his good health in part to trails.

"I'm lucky to be so healthy at 83," says Robichaud. "My second wife is 25 years younger and tells me that I'm keeping her young."

As soon as the construction of Phase 5, slated to begin next year, is completed, the rail-trail's current gap between Winchendon and Gardner will finally be closed. When another short section is added in 2015, the paved pathway will stretch 13 continuous miles, connecting popular attractions such as Whitney Pond and Crystal Lake to homes, businesses and schools.

"The bike path is beautiful," says Boucher. "It's very rural and woodsy, with wildflowers and wetlands."

The sections through town at either end of the trail are especially popular with recreational walkers. And although there is a 2.5-mile on-road section in Gardner, it's an easy ride on quiet streets.

"We were amazed by how much it's been used," says Boucher. "People stop me on the street and thank me because it's such an asset to the community."

Photo of Winchenden to Gardner section courtesy Norman Beauregard.
Photo of Mass. State Senator Stephen Brewer and local advocates opening a new section of the NCP courtesy Sen. Brewer.

Post-Sandy: How to Get Involved With Cleaning Up Your Local Rail-Trail

Jake Lynch — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 15:30:00 GMT

We hope that Hurricane Sandy didn't wreak too much havoc on your community during the last few days.

Though the dense urban areas of New York City and northern New Jersey were the most effected, the reality is that all through the Northeast people are now dealing with fallen trees, debris, collapsed fences and power lines that, in many instances, will be partially blocking or completely closing local trail systems.

Now is the perfect time to roll up the sleeves and see what you can do help restore your local rail-trail. But how do you get involved? It's not a great idea just to grab the nearest machete and start hacking away at branches, so what is the right way to channel your energy and support?

1. Find out who's in charge. Every trail has its own managing agency. This could be your local parks department, or it could be an organized volunteer group. Finding out is not too hard. The best bet is to Google the name of the trail, and find contact information at the trail's webpage. Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's (RTC) trail finder website www.traillink.com includes contact information on each trail's managing agency. Simply find your local trail's page, and look under the "Related Content" bar on the right side of the page.

"Checking in with the trail manager enables local friends of the trail to better coordinate resources, provide equipment, and to make sure the most effort is being directed to sections of the trail that need it," says Tom Sexton, director of RTC's Northeast Regional Office.

2. Get a team together. The silver lining to natural disasters like this one is often the tremendous response of people and businesses in helping their community in the aftermath. Talk to your friends and neighbors, gather a party of colleagues, and take your collective strength out on the trail. Many hands make light work, and cleanups are a great way to strengthen the sense of community that already exists around local rail-trails.

3. Be safe. Trail managers and organized groups will always provide and insist on appropriate safety protocols. If you're out on your own, make sure you are visible to other trail users. Set up a safety cone or other visible marker on either side of your work area. Wear bright clothing. It goes without saying, but be very careful when using cutting tools and sharp implements. And, finally, don't try and do too much. That log might be heavier than you think. If in doubt, get someone to help you - it's always a good idea to have at least one partner on hand.

4. Document your work. Take photos, write a blog entry, or contact your local paper. Not only is it great to give credit to those who helped, but publicizing the work however you can will bring attention to both the trail and the generous community it inspires. Events like these are great opportunities to build awareness of and support for local trail groups and trail funding.

If you're having difficulty identifying the managing agency for your local rail-trail, or have other post-storm maintenance issues, contact RTC's Northeast Regional Office at 717-238-1717, or RTCNortheastOffice@railstotrails.org

Photos: Connecticut's Farmington Canal Heritage Trail after a storm last October, courtesy Farmington Valley Trails Council.
Trail Manager Del Bischoff inspecting flood damage along Iowa's Heritage Trail, courtesy Dubuque County Conservation Board.

Community Buy-In Builds Beautiful Parkway in California

Jake Lynch — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 17:00:00 GMT

Everywhere you go you hear that times are tough. Particularly in the world of trail-building, resources for development and maintenance are limited or nonexistent, and it can be disheartening for volunteers and advocates who face seemingly insurmountable planning challenges and multi-million dollar estimates.

But Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's report, Community Built: Stories of Volunteers Creating and Caring for Their Trails, contains inspiring examples of everyday Americans across the country using their community strength to create incredible trails. It gives trail champions a reason to take heart, because across the country, stories abound of trails getting developed, extended and cared for with minimal resources.

Reedley Community Parkway in California is one of those. Built along a railbanked right-of-way next to existing tracks, the 2.6-mile trail provides an alternate route to access some of Reedley's busiest arterial streets. Hundreds of walkers, cyclists and runners use the Reedley Parkway daily.

From its inception, the trail-building process was driven by a coalition of citizens and volunteers who had a dream of a non-motorized trail in the heart of Reedley that could be used for commuting and recreation. At the time of abandonment, the city had possession of the downtown right-of-way, which they planned to relinquish to adjacent landowners. However, a grassroots coalition of citizens approached the city government and asked for it to be transformed into a trail. A Rails to Trails Committee was formed to engage in fundraising, organize volunteers to help with the construction process, and act as a forum for public input into the design of the trail. The Trails Committee has been the driving force in maintaining the trail and incorporating new amenities into it.

The Trails Committee's success in engaging the community has been stunning: more than 75 different organizations have been involved with the trail. Volunteers have planted more than 840 trees and 150 shrubs, and the Trails Committee was given significant autonomy by the city council to utilize volunteers as needed for the beautification of the parkway, reducing costs for the city and enabling continued improvements to be made.

While construction of the trail was funded by various federal government grants, $63,000 in donations from local businesses and citizens have provided the necessary amenities. Twenty-three benches were donated. Two drinking fountains, two bicycle racks, a kiosk for posting community events, three picnic tables, two donor boards with more than 100 tiles, and one art sculpture were all paid for by the community. An ornamental fountain was donated by Buttonwillow Nursery, and the brick foundation surrounding the fountain was donated by Reedley Lumber. Three dog waste dispensers were donated by the Reedley Veterinary Hospital. The Fresno County Workforce Investment Board Youth Commission painted a mural celebrating the town's history, and a gazebo was built by Beckenhauer Construction, using materials the city government had purchased with a grant. Landscaping was completed by student volunteers from Reedley College.

The incredible amount of time and money contributed to the Reedley Parkway by volunteers is a great example of the benefits that can accrue when a tightly knit community "buys in" to the vision of a trail. Reedley Parkway is the only non-motorized trail running through the small town of Reedley, and it connects the entire town from northwest to southeast. These factors have made the residents proud of their trail and instilled in them this sense of ownership.

To learn more about the community that has grown around the Reedly Parkway, and similar inspiring local efforts, read and download Community Built at www.railstotrails.org.

Photos courtesy Blossom Trail Photography

"Bad News Bears" of Rail-Trails, Good News for Ferry County, Wash.

Jake Lynch — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 17:00:00 GMT

Winners of the first-ever Rails-to-Trails Conservancy very unofficial award for Best Trail Organization Tagline: the Ferry County Rail Trail Partners ("The Bad News Bears of Trail Groups").

By the looks of it, though, these guys are in better shape than Walter Matthau with a Studebaker full of beer cans.

Ferry County Rail Trail Partners' (FCRTP) energetic director Bob Whittaker sent us these photos of trail volunteerism in action. When a massive windstorm brought down six large trees in July, it was up to the Ferry County Rail Corridor Committee to roll up their sleeves and clear them off the trail. Last week, committee members Paul Cribby, Madilane Perry, Whittaker and Bobbi Weller cleared the storm damage in the Curlew lake area of the trail--from Herron Creek trailhead north to the trestle that traverses the lake.

FCRTP's active supporter base is not only sustaining the trail but also inspiring future investment. The Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office recently ranked Ferry County's rail-trial surfacing project seventh out of 20 statewide projects, and number one overall in the public support and cost-efficiency categories.

To see why this up-and-coming rail-trail is attracting new fans from across America, check out the wonderful slideshow of images at www.ferrycountyrailtrail.com.

Photos courtesy www.ferrycountyrailtrail.com.

How to Generate Media and Improve Your Outreach

Jake Lynch — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 16:10:00 GMT

By Jake Lynch

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) is putting together a "How-To" series of Web pages--instructional pieces designed to support the many volunteers and advocates who build, maintain, promote and make the case for trail systems in communities large and small.

This week we posted the second in that series: How To: Generate Media and Improve Your Outreach. As RTC's manager of communications, I work a lot with trail groups trying to promote themselves and spread word about events like trail clean-ups or fundraising deadlines. Some of these groups are obviously media-savvy and experienced, while others are just getting off the ground and looking for assistance. Drawing on my previous work as a newspaper editor and journalist, I hope these tidbits of wisdom provide some real and concrete advice your trails group can use.

Some of them are simple and easy to implement (make sure there are people and faces in your photos), while others will require some technical skills (if you can, design an online trail map). The end goal is always to make it easy for the media to learn about your trail project, and encourage local newspapers and news outlets to talk about what you are doing.

Best of luck, and keep up the great work.

Rail-Trail Happenings to Celebrate National Trails Day, June 2

Jake Lynch — Mon, 14 May 2012 16:10:00 GMT

Organized by the American Hiking Society and local trail groups across the country, National Trails Day, Saturday, June 2, is the perfect opportunity to spend an early summer's day on a rail-trail near you.

Whether it's a first-time walk along a trail you've long been meaning to check out, or rolling up the sleeves and doing some satisfying clean-up and maintenance work, it is easy to join the millions of Americans showing their appreciation for our growing trails system on National Trails Day.

If you're looking for something to do on National Trails Day, here are a few events taking place on rail-trails...

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) is using National Trails Day as the perfect moment to celebrate the induction of West Virginia's Greenbrier River Trail into the RTC Rail-Trail Hall of Fame. We are hosting a free community celebration in the lovely town of Marlinton, and are inviting all our friends and supporters (that's you) to come along. Following the induction ceremony at the 9th Street trailhead at 1p.m., there will be a barbecue lunch in Marlinton Park at 1:30 p.m., and a guided ride and walk leaving at 3 p.m. More info: contact RTC's Jake Lynch at 202.974.5107, or at jake@railstotrails.org.

In upstate New York, the Victor Hiking Trails organization will again host a series of hikes along the Auburn Trail. The event will begin at 8:30 a.m. at the Fishers Fire Station #1, 7853 Main Street, Fishers, with a free continental breakfast. All are welcome to have some juice, coffee, tea, pastries and fruit and learn about the more than 50 miles of trails in Victor. Guided hikes for different abilities begin at 9 a.m. Free pizza lunch afterwards! You can't beat that. Register at 585.234.8226 before May 30. More info: www.VictorHikingTrails.org.

The people of Danvers, Mass., are throwing a huge party on June 2 to celebrate the ribbon-cutting and dedication of the Danvers Rail-Trail. It's going to be a big day in Danvers, with too many activities to list--but here's the gist: music, farmers market, pancake breakfast, magic, face painting, local bands, local bites, local beers, bike raffle... and of course, a stroll along the trail. More info: www.danversrailtrail.org

On the West Coast, the city of Milwaukie, Ore., just south of Portland, will host a celebration June 2 to mark the completion of the six-mile Trolley Trail, a much-anticipated rail-trail project that has been 10 years in the making. There will be activities for kids, tours of an historical trollery, information about the trail, entertainment, snacks and refreshments, and a guided walk at this free event. The celebration is happening at Oak Grove Elementary School, 2150 S.E. Torbank Road, Milwaukie. More info: ncprd.com

On the edge of the Great Salt Lake in Utah, the communities of Clearfield, Clinton, Layton, Kaysville and Farmington are inviting walkers, runners, bicyclists, inline skaters and skateboarders to take on a section, or all 14 miles, of the Denver & Rio Grande Western Rail Trail. Leashed dogs are allowed, and in support of National Trails Day event organizers will have special activities along the route. More info: www.clearfieldcity.org, or call Clearfield Community Services at 801.525.2790.

There is plenty happening on the Montour Trail (pictured left) outside Pittsburgh, Pa. Cecil Friends of the Montour Trail are hosting the 8th annual 5k 'Tails for Trails' fun dog walk, June 2, between 8:30 a.m. and 12 p.m. More info: contact Mary Ellen McKenna at 412.445.0185, or Dennis Sims at 412.496.4308, or visit www.montourtrail.org.

The Friends of the Montour Trail in Bethel Park are holding their 7th annual JR Taylor Memorial Bridge 5K Race/Walk on June 2. About 300 runners and walkers are expected to participate in the event. Register at www.runhigh.com. Proceeds from the race will help maintain and upgrade the trail and promote the continuing extension of the trail in the community and neighboring communities.

If there isn't an event on your local rail-trail, it's easy to start one. Get a group of friends, reach out through your trail managers or local volunteers, and meet up for a ride, walk, run, or do a bit of spring (summer) cleaning.

Or, find trail events near you at the National Trails Day website.

Whatever you do, we hope you have a wonderful National Trails Day!

Photo of "Walk a Hound" event on the Morgana Run Trail courtesy of Slavic Village Development Corp.
Photo of the Montour Trail courtesy of Mark Imgrund/www.montourtrail.org.

Holding a National Trails Day Event on Your Local Rail-Trail? Tell Us About It!

Jake Lynch — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 16:20:00 GMT

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) is keen to hear from communities or individuals holding a National Trails Day event on their local rail-trail, June 2.

Although many of us celebrate our love for trails in our own personal way each day, since 1993 National Trails Day, organized by the American Hiking Society the first Saturday in June, has been the one occasion when people across the country come together as one large community and celebrate together these wonderful avenues of recreation and transportation.

America's 200,000 miles of trails represent a many-splendored thing. They allow us access to the natural world for recreation, education, exploration, solitude and inspiration. They take us to good physical and mental health by providing us with a place to breathe fresh air, get our hearts pumping, and escape from our stresses. And, just as importantly, they provide mobility and transportation, a connection to schools, stores and employment--an open door to the wide world.

No wonder tens of thousands of Americans are always eager to show some serious love for trails on National Trails Day!

What about you?

Trail clean-up? Barbecue? Three-legged race or a good-ol' fun run? If you know of something happening on a rail-trail near you to celebrate National Trails Day, let us know about it! We can help promote your event through our nationwide network of members and friends.

And be sure to get lots of photos and video from the event! It's a great way to not only recognize those supporters and volunteers who give their time to keep our rail-trails spick and span, but it also helps promote both your trail and your town to rail-trail aficionados all across America.

Take a moment to get in touch at jake@railstotrails.org.

Photo courtesy of Vermont State Parks blog.

Trail Groups Get a Jump on Spring Cleaning

Jake Lynch — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 16:45:00 GMT

By Lindsay Martin, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's Manager of Trail Development

Spring is certainly in the air. This winter has been unusually mild around much of the country, and many regions are experiencing spring-like temperatures much earlier than usual.

According to recent news stories, the early arrival of the season has also meant some trail groups are getting an early start on their spring cleaning.

Last week, city crews in Morgantown, W.Va., started their post-winter trail maintenance on the Caperton Trail.

"The city's parks and rail-trails are a desirable destination for many people, and due to the warm winter have been used more regularly," reported a local news station, adding that the extra traffic meant "trash and debris along the banks of the Monongahela River are more prevalent than usual during the final days of the season."

Being able to tidy up rails and park areas earlier in the year actually benefits the city in a number of ways, as work crews are able to clear the debris easier without having to work around spring vegetation.

In Vernon, Conn., the Vernon Greenways Volunteers will begin their regular clean-ups earlier than usual this year. The local group, which partners with the town's parks and recreation department to help maintain 30-plus miles of trail, is modeled after the Adopt-A-Highway program, and is funded by donations from local individuals and businesses.

These news stories illustrate how two communities have addressed a critical trail development issue: maintenance. After a trail is constructed, regular maintenance is needed to help ensure it is safe for trail users and well-used for years to come.

Typically, a trail is maintained by a municipality, nonprofit organization or volunteer group--or a partnership that involves some combination of the three. For instance, the Caperton Trail is maintained by a local municipality--the Morgantown Public Works Department. On the other hand, the trails in Vernon are maintained by a public-private partnership between the town's parks and recreation department and a group of local volunteers.

An effective tool for developing such partnerships is the creation of a Memorandum of Understanding or Agreement (MOU or MOA), outlining the responsibilities of each party, including maintenance and management and any other pertinent issues.

With maintenance plans in place, these communities were able to be proactive--taking advantage of this mild winter to get their spring cleaning out of the way.

For more information and resources on trail maintenance, visit the "Management and Maintenance" section of RTC's Trail-Building Toolbox.

Photos courtesy of the Vernon Greenways Volunteers.

Detroit Trail Maintenance Project Celebrates Completion of Pilot, Looks to Future

Stephen Miller (RTC) — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 17:46:00 GMT

By Ruby Brunk

In 2010, the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, through its GreenWays Initiative, awarded a $147,433 grant to The Greening of Detroit for a pilot project focusing on the maintenance of local greenways. The resulting project not only kept targeted greenways maintained but also provided jobs and improved community trail usage and stewardship.

The Detroit Greenway Maintenance Pilot Project focused on Detroit’s Conner Creek, Southwest Detroit-Dearborn and Lyndon greenways. Before the season began, The Greening’s project manager met with partners from each site to go over specific maintenance details. The three greenways were split into manageable sections, and extensive maintenance surveys were conducted. The Greening developed work plans based on the surveys and kept careful records of all work performed. Four individuals were hired to make up the project’s maintenance crew. In addition to pre-season field orientations, the crew was given an overview on their work in the larger context of greenway development. Crew members also benefited from trainings on tool use, horticulture and landscaping throughout the season.

The regular presence of the crew, along with the work they accomplished, boosted morale on the greenway and increased community use and stewardship. Crewmembers reported on daily positive interactions, such as greenway users thanking them for their work or seeking them out to address additional maintenance issues. The community was further engaged by the project’s Growing Greener Detroit Series, which brought together Detroit residents, schools, churches and community organizations for events on the greenway. Partnerships with community centers and the dispersal of 3,000 promotional flyers were part of a concerted outreach effort, resulting in 316 youth and adults from 68 different organizations participating in day camps, tree walks, service days, horticulture workshops and other programming.

One of the goals of the Detroit Greenways Maintenance Pilot Project was to develop best practices for Detroit’s current and future greenways. On the Conner Creek, Southwest Detroit-Dearborn and Lyndon greenways, the success of the project is palpable. With the Detroit Greenways Coalition moving the city's trail network forward, this project should help inform the planning of other greenways in Detroit.

Photo: Detroit's Dequindre Cut Greenway by Flickr user Rex Roof.

From the Beltway to the Bikeway: Local News Radio Rides with Trail Patrol

Stephen Miller (RTC) — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 20:16:00 GMT

In the Washington, D.C., area, WTOP radio is known as the station with updates on Beltway traffic every 10 minutes. But reporter Kate Ryan switched her minivan for a bicycle and has been taking listeners along for the ride. From ladies nights at local bike shops to free bike clinics, Ryan has been covering the local bike scene for a mainstream audience. As part of her coverage, she's paid significant attention to trails. Recently, she took a spin with Officer Donald Brew, who patrols the Capital Crescent Trail for the Maryland-National Capital Park Police.

Brew discusses the training that a bike-mounted police officer must go through, including instruction on riding down stairs and handling a gun while on a bicycle. He also notes that proper trail etiquette is a major issue on a busy trail like the Capital Crescent. Dogs on long leashes and children wandering around the trail can create hazards for other trail users, and higher-speed trail users must give an audible warning before passing a slower trail user.

"Brew says the key to keeping the trail safe for the cyclists, the joggers and the dog walkers isn’t enforcement," Ryan writes. "It’s courtesy."

Bold Policy Statement Commits U.S. DOT to "Fully Integrated Active Transportation Networks"

Stephen Miller (RTC) — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 13:19:00 GMT

Video: Sec. LaHood speaks at the 2010 National Bike Summit, specifically mentioning the C&O Canal towpath and TIGER grants for active transportation networks.

U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Ray LaHood has issued some of his strongest statements yet in support of active transportation networks. Encouraging state agencies and local communities to "go beyond minimum design standards and requirements" to treat "walking and bicycling as equals with other transportation modes," this new policy is a bold step that includes the following trail-specific points:

In encouraging active transportation plans to go beyond the minimum requirements, the policy notes that trails "designed to minimum width requirements will need retrofits as more people use them. It is more effective to plan for increased usage than to retrofit an older facility." Many communities are learning this lesson the hard way; here in Washington, D.C., the local government has been working with the National Park Service to widen the popular Rock Creek Park Trail.
"DOT encourages bicycle and pedestrian accommodation on bridge projects including facilities on limited-access bridges with connections to streets or paths." Bridges are particularly important links between our communities; in Cleveland, cyclists and pedestrians have been fighting for a bike path to be included as part of a major bridge replacement project. Ohio Governor Ted Strickland has listened, asking his DOT to reconsider its opposition. Now advocates have the official policy of U.S. DOT on their side, as well.
Calling for "routine collection of non-motorized trip information" and "setting mode share targets for walking and bicycling and tracking them over time," the policy places new priority on counting bicyclists and pedestrians. The case for active transportation becomes stronger with solid numbers to detail exactly how many people are using sidewalks, trails and bikeway systems.
The policy also encourages "removing snow from sidewalks and shared-use paths...in the same manner as other roadway assets." This should come as welcome news along the Keystone Trail in Omaha, Neb., where cyclists have organized to shovel the trail where the city leaves blockages, or along the Capital Crescent Trail in Maryland, where a county refuses to clear a commuter route.

While it's exciting that these measures are now official U.S. DOT policy, and recommended policy for state and local agencies, Sec. LaHood noted that these were only "initial steps forward." Communities that want to commit to active transportation as a cost-effective component of our larger transportation system still need funding to make it happen. The Active Community Transportation Act will do just that by providing $2 billion--that's less than one percent of our national transportation spending--to communities for investment in trails, walking and biking. This bill needs your help. Please encourage your representative to co-sponsor this very important legislation by taking action now.

Sign of the Times: Regional Cooperation in Ohio Yields Results

Eric Oberg (RTC) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:59:00 GMT

Central Ohio Greenways (COG) is a collaborative in central Ohio whose mission is to help communities build and expand their trail and greenway networks. The group is run by the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC), Franklin County MetroParks, city of Columbus and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's Midwest Regional Office. In working with the numerous jurisdictions that attend COG's quarterly meetings, the group decided that a clear, concise and professional signage program for the region was needed.

While each participating community realized that signage was needed and that consistent regional standards were important, the cost of quality signage was prohibitive to many. So with MORPC's lead, COG took on the challenge and funded the professional design services necessary to create a sign template, which is now available to all jurisdictions in the area. With design costs taken care of and the template available free of charge, each community now only had to find funding for manufacturing and installation.

The first of the newly designed COG signs have been installed by the city of Columbus Parks and Recreation Department along the Alum Creek Trail. The unique color and design of these signs will brand the entire trail system throughout the region, thus allowing users to quickly identify the trails and know they are in the Central Ohio Greenway network.

Photo by Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission

Vigilante Trail Maintenance

Stephen Miller (RTC) — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 16:33:00 GMT

UPDATE: A video has been posted by Omaha.net. See it embedded above.

Omaha, Neb., gets its share of snow. Unlike many other places, the city plows its trail network to ensure that cyclists and pedestrians can get where they need to go after a storm. Despite this effort, there are blockages that occur when a plow reaches a place it cannot clear, or drifting snow covers a section of the trail. Via the RTC Blogroll comes word from Omaha Bikes of the Guerrilla Trail Crew, a group of Omaha cyclists that has decided to take snow removal into its own hands. The group's members mean that literally - they bring shovels and ride the Keystone Trail, clearing blocked sections.

Although not an established 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the group is looking for volunteers with shovels or snowblowers to help them remove the white stuff after Mother Nature's next winter storm. One of the Guerrilla Trail Crew's participants encourages those who are interested to take the initiative themselves: "Since there is no official 'organizer' or 'person in charge,' anyone is welcome to attack an area of trail or organize their own guerilla army. If you hear of an area that needs [to be] addressed and you have time," he wrote, "have at it."

Who Maintains The High Line?

Stephen Miller (RTC) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:02:00 GMT

Friends of the High Line produced a video that interviews two of their maintenance staff–gardener Andi Lawton and custodian Jose Casanova. They are part of a team paid for by private donations to keep this rail-trail clean and green, and provide a glimpse of what it takes to keep one of New York's most popular public spaces in good working order.