An Overview of Rail Trails: From Concept to Construction and Beyond

EUS 305 Sustainable Trail DesignOct 1, 2015

Tim Weidemann, Kingston Land Trust

What is a “Rail Trail?”

A Brief History of Rail Trails

• In 1916, at its height, the US railroad network comprised 270,000+ miles of track (6x bigger than the Interstate highway system is today)

• Economics and changes in transportation policy have led to a major contraction in this system

• More than 150,000 miles have been abandoned, with thousands more abandoned each year

• Abandoned rail lines create a perfect opportunity for adaptive reuse – TRAILS!

Rail Trails Today

• Open Today– Nearly 2,000 rail trails in the US– Totaling over 22,000 miles

• In Development– Over 700 rail trail projects are in the works– Totaling an additional 8,000 miles

Why Do People Want Rail Trails?

• A place to go to play and connect with nature (recreation)• A way to travel on foot, bike, horse, etc. (transportation)• A public investment that revitalizes and spurs private

investment (economic development, real estate development)

• A resource to encourage physical activity (public health)• A way to attract new visitors (tourism)• In urban settings, all of these benefits take on a social

justice angle – low-income and minority populations

The Rail Trail Development Cycle

Vision Acquisition/ Site Control Design Construction

Operations and

Management

Planning, Fundraising, Advocacy, Communications…

Planning and Operations• Happens throughout, guiding project through various stages

• Involves lots of players (public, private, nonprofit, community)

• Should coordinate and intersect with related planning efforts – nonmotorized transportation, – parks/recreation, – tourism strategy, – neighborhood/community development, – economic development, – environmental protection/conservation, – comprehensive plans/land use plans, – etc.

The Vision• The QueensWay Vision

– A new kind of neighborhood park that will safely link to and enhance Forest Park

– A showcase for Queens through cultural events and opportunities for local businesses

– A way to connect children with nature and create much-needed new play spaces

– A path to Vision Zero, with safe walking and biking routes to schools, stores, and work

– New open space for neighborhoods that don’t have enough parks

– Restoration of healthy and productive ecological systems

• The Kingston Greenline Vision– A system of linear

parks and complete streets that

– Connects residents and visitors to

– Kingston’s rich historical, cultural, recreational, and commercial resources

The Vision (Evolves)

• The QueensWay • The Kingston Greenline

Acquisition/Site Control

• Rail banking – Created under an act of Congress in 1983, based on concern about the rapid contraction in the national rail network. A method by which lines proposed for abandonment can be preserved for future rail use through interim conversion to trail use.

• Easements – Permanent restriction, recorded on the property deed, that allows for trail-related use.

• Revocable license agreements – Temporary permission to use a property/portion of a property for trail-related use.

• Public lands – Fuzzy area: is it a park, or simply a public property open for public access?

Rail Trail Design Approaches

• Design for Usability– What are the uses, and how do you create a great user

experience?• Design for Environmental Context– What are the constraints and opportunities of the ROW and

the surrounding area?• Design for Management and Operations– Who will take care of it, and how will ongoing operations be

funded?• Design for Budget– How much money do you have?

Priorities Inform Design

• Width and clearance• Trail surface• Trail signage (directional, wayfinding,

interpretive, etc.)• Trail maintenance strategies (plow?)• Trail access points and trailheads• Might even lead to conclusion that trail is

INFEASIBLE

Rail Trail Design Guidelines

• Guidelines for Bike Facilities• AASHTO Guide for the Development of Bike Facilities• NACTO Urban Bikeway Design Guide

• Legal/Statutory Requirements• ADA and Universal Federal Accessibility Standards• NEPA/SEQRA• MUTCD• Other state and local laws and regulations

Design - Accessibility Guidelines

• Americans with Disabilities Act– Applies to any publicly accessible building, facility or

improved property– Determines width, slope, surface characteristics, etc.

• Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards– Apply to projects receiving federal funding or on

federal property– A higher standard of accessibility (i.e. more user-

friendly but more costly)

Design - Trail Surface Types

• Lots of options!

Design - Crossings

Design - Enhancements!

Design - Signage and Wayfinding

• Part of creating the great user experience!

Construction

Operations & Management - Liability

• Who do you sue?• Protections– Recreational Use Statute (requires free public use)– Due Diligence– Training and Risk Management– Liability Insurance

Ops & Mgmt - Maintenance

• Who will maintain the trail?– Volunteers or paid employees?– Nonprofit or municipal?

• How will funds be secured for ongoing maintenance?– What are the responsibilities of each party?– Will they have the resources to live up to that?

• How will safety be assured?– Basic safety guidelines and routine monitoring

Ops & Mgmt - Management

• Monitoring• Leases and Easements• Permits• Concession Arrangements• Neighborhood Relations• Marketing & Communications

Ops & Mgmt – Capital Improvements

• Long term repair and replacement• Very expensive• Who pays for this?– Trail owner?– Trail maintainer?– Trail manager?

Ops & Mgmt – Measuring Trail Use

Ideas for Your Assignments

• Volunteer for a sustainable trail org– Contact me at admin@kingstonlandtrust.org to discuss volunteer

opportunities– Follow us at Facebook.com/KingstonRailTrails

• Final Project Possibilities– How will we connect to off-trail destinations?– Where should we locate trail amenities/enhancements?– What signage do we need and where?– What are the interesting historic and cultural assets along the

Greenline?– How should we design the trail to maximize environmental

sustainability and resiliency?