Search results matching tag 'tunnels'

Milwaukee Road Rail-Trail in Idaho: Inventory and Assessment

StephenMRTC — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 21:17:58 GMT

Over 150 years ago, in 1847, the railroad which was to become known as the “Milwaukee Road” was incorporated and by 1905 extended from Chicago to Puget Sounds, Washington. A technical marvel, “it pioneered long-distance electrification (656 route miles), was constructed of all-welded freight and passenger cars, and operated high-speed intercity passenger trains. (The steam powered Hiawatha commonly ran over 100 m.p.h..) The road employed thousands and touched millions during its operation.”1 It is our hope that the legacy of the Milwaukee Road can be preserved. Through the establishment of a trail, users will once again be able to traverse the trestles, submerge themselves in the tunnels, enjoy the beauty of the landscape, and soak in the history of a route vital to U.S. history.

Tunnels on Trails: A Study of 78 Tunnels on 36 Trails in the United States

StephenMRTC — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 17:54:30 GMT

During the fall of 2000, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy identified open trail tunnels across the United States, and conducted an extensive survey of the managers of these tunnels. This report presents information about the experiences of 78 tunnels on 36 trails in the United States open only to non-motorized traffic. It covers many aspects of these tunnels, focusing on typical community concerns which include safety, liability issues, costs of tunnel restoration, construction, maintenance and the impact of a tunnel on the existing transportation network and surrounding communities.

As a result of the work on this report, the authors are convinced that tunnels used to close gaps that impede bicycle and pedestrian travel represent a valuable resource that can help a community achieve its transportation goals.

Rail-Trail Maintenance & Operation: Ensuring the Future of Your Trail - A Survey of 100 Rail-Trails

StephenMRTC — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 20:12:19 GMT

This publication is based on earlier work conducted by the Pennsylvania Office of the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC). “Rail-Trail Maintenance: Preparing for the Future of Your Trail” was written by AmeriCorps team member Susan Thagard and released in 1996. Bob McKinley of the Regional Trail Corporation in southwest Pennsylvania provided valuable guidance throughout its development. Soon after its release it became clear that many maintenance complexities were not fully explored. However, those missing elements were at least identified, and many are included in this second study, while others may require even more coverage in a future publication. This greatly expanded study was made possible in large part by the nearly 100 trail managers who took their time to respond to our survey.