Rails to Trail - Linear Parks

Ken Middlebrook · **Posted:** Wed Jul 18, 2018 1:52 pm

The Rails to Trails effort can provide new interpretive opportunities of our rail history. Here in San Jose, I have been working with two separate efforts on different sections of the Western Pacific Railroad line in our community.

This link is a nice overview of nine linear parks that have transformed their communities.
https://www.curbed.com/2017/6/22/158470 ... inear-park

Getting involved with similar efforts can lead to positive community relationships/exposure for our museums.

Ken

Jdelhaye · **Posted:** Wed Jul 18, 2018 2:01 pm

Ken Middlebrook wrote:

The Rails to Trails effort ........
Ken

sorry Ken, But I stopped reading after those 5 blasphemous words...….

airforcerail · **Posted:** Wed Jul 18, 2018 2:41 pm

We just leased a line, and within days are already fending off a group wanting to make it a trail...

I am a proponent of rail trails, when they are used as intended. However these more frequent attacks on active lines are getting out of hand...

EWrice · **Joined:** Wed Jan 15, 2014 9:14 am **Posts:** 367

For those that can have an open mind, and not draw a line in the sand so quickly, some pretty creative things can happen that benefit both sides. I know of one group that "sold" a long term lease of an easment along their tracks to the state for use as a bikepath. The trains still run, the bikers still ride, and it brought in a BIG chunk of change for the railroad. Not everything has to be so black and white.

PaulWWoodring · **Posted:** Wed Jul 18, 2018 3:04 pm

EWrice wrote:

For those that can have an open mind, and not draw a line in the sand so quickly, some pretty creative things can happen that benefit both sides. I know of one group that "sold" a long term lease of an easment along their tracks to the state for use as a bikepath. The trains still run, the bikers still ride, and it brought in a BIG chunk of change for the railroad. Not everything has to be so black and white.

That can be true, and it is possible for both to co-exist. However, most of the time the trails people want it all for themselves and will fight to the death to tear up the rails.

Randy Hees · **Posted:** Wed Jul 18, 2018 10:07 pm

At the Nevada State Railroad Museum in Boulder City, we share a bit of our right of way over Railroad Pass with a trail, (https://rivermountainstrail.org/) including two grade crossings. We are in planning to bring a spur of that trail onto our right of way with a third crossing, and onto our museum site, in part to serve as a public trail through the half mile long museum.

In our case it is specifically a "Rails and Trails" project.

The trail community has been supportive, and with their support and in one case through them we have received two planning grants totaling $118,000.

Beyond the River Mountain Loop Trail, and our Boulder City Railroad Trail, the trail connects with one completed trail (the UP Railroad Trail) along a City owned industrial lead, and a "to be built (fully funded) Harry Reid trail along a UP industrial spur... it totals about 52 miles of paved bike trail.

The experience has been universally positive.

Randy