Rail trails in the United States

Rail trails in the United States
Name	Rail trails in the United States
Established	1960s–present
Length	Over 24,000 miles
Location	United States

Rail trails in the United States are multiuse paths created from abandoned railroad corridors that serve recreation and transportation purposes. Originating from early conversions such as the Elroy-Sparta State Trail and the Katy Trail State Park, rail trails evolved through advocacy by groups like Rails-to-Trails Conservancy and policy actions by agencies including the National Park Service and state transportation agencies. They connect urban centers, rural communities, and heritage sites while intersecting with networks like the East Coast Greenway and the Great American Rail-Trail initiative.

Overview and History

Rail-to-trail conversions began in the mid-20th century as sections of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad and other carriers were abandoned following shifts by the Penn Central Transportation Company and the passage of the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act of 1976. Early adopters included projects in Wisconsin and Missouri transforming corridors once owned by the Chicago and North Western Transportation Company and the Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railroad. The movement accelerated after the formation of the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy and landmark legal precedents involving railbanking under the National Trails System Act Amendments of 1983. Federal involvement grew through programs administered by the National Park Service, the Federal Highway Administration, and state agencies such as the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

Development and Organization

Planning and development typically involve partnerships among entities such as municipal governments like the City of Portland, Oregon, county authorities like Montgomery County, Maryland, state parks systems such as the California Department of Parks and Recreation, nonprofit organizations like the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy and the Friends of the High Line, and private landowners including rail companies such as CSX Transportation and Union Pacific Railroad. Funding sources include grants from the Transportation Alternatives Program, allocations under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, state bonds authorized by legislatures like the California State Legislature, and philanthropic contributions from foundations including the McKnight Foundation. Community organizations such as Rails-to-Trails Conservancy affiliates and local groups like TrailNet coordinate volunteer efforts and stewardship.

Notable Rail Trail Networks and Examples

Prominent long-distance trails include the Katy Trail State Park in Missouri, the Great Allegheny Passage connecting to the C&O Canal Towpath, the Ice Age Trail segments repurposed from rail alignments in Wisconsin, and the planned Great American Rail-Trail championed by the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. Urban conversions include the High Line (New York City) and the BeltLine (Atlanta), both involving partnerships with the City of New York and the City of Atlanta, respectively. Other notable examples are the MoPac Trail in Iowa, the Elroy-Sparta State Trail in Wisconsin, the Virginia Creeper Trail in Virginia, the Tammany Trace in Louisiana, the Galloping Goose Regional Trail in Alaska, and the Cleveland Metroparks' Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail integration. Regional networks include the East Coast Greenway spanning corridors through Maine, Florida, and New York, and the Pacific Northwest Trail connections near Seattle and Portland, Maine.

Design, Amenities, and Safety

Design standards often reference guidance from the Federal Highway Administration and best practices promoted by the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy and the National Recreation and Park Association. Typical surface treatments range from asphalt and crushed stone to boardwalks bridging wetlands near sites managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or the National Park Service. Amenities include trailheads developed by local park departments like the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation, signage coordinated with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, bike repair stations funded by corporate partners such as REI, seating installed by municipal partners like the City of Chicago, and lighting supported by utility districts such as the Sacramento Municipal Utility District. Safety measures involve crossing treatments with state departments of transportation like the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, emergency access coordinated with American Red Cross chapters, and law enforcement patrols by agencies like the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police or county sheriffs.

Economic, Environmental, and Social Impacts

Economic analyses by institutions like the Brookings Institution and the Urban Land Institute document increased property values, tourism revenue in towns along trails such as Midland, Michigan and Columbia, Missouri, and business development in corridors revitalized in cities like Cleveland and Minneapolis. Environmental benefits have been reported in studies by the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Forest Service, including habitat connectivity near preserves managed by the National Park Service and carbon sequestration estimates developed by researchers at Cornell University and Oregon State University. Social impacts include public health gains promoted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, community cohesion highlighted in reports from the Kaiser Family Foundation, and increased active transportation options integrated with transit agencies like the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the Bay Area Rapid Transit District.

Preservation, Conversion, and Legal Issues

Legal frameworks center on mechanisms such as railbanking administered by the Surface Transportation Board under the National Trails System Act Amendments of 1983, property interests litigated in state courts like the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania or the California Supreme Court, and easement negotiations involving entities such as Amtrak and regional railroads. Preservation organizations include the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Historic Railways and Locomotive Society, while conversion controversies have arisen in disputes involving municipalities like the City of Philadelphia and private landowners in states such as Texas and Florida. Adaptive reuse projects sometimes integrate historic structures listed on the National Register of Historic Places and coordinate with agencies like the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation.

Category:Trails in the United States