Rails to Trails Conservancy, the US’ largest trails, walking and biking advocacy organisation, has announced new momentum along the route of the Great American Rail-Trail as the organization’s project celebrates seven years of progress.
This spring, major development occurred in five of the 12 states that comprise the 3,700-mile route across the country. From ribbon cuttings to new land acquisition, RTC said the projects moving forward in Ohio, Indiana, Nebraska, Wyoming and Washington state will unlock long-distance corridors, create new connections to important destinations within communities, and deliver on the economic development opportunity of the trail.
“This progress is a testament to the tenacity of the trails movement and the power of a vision to unite communities around a common goal. Some of these projects have been in the works for decades and the Great American is a catalyst in moving them forward,” said Kevin Belle, RTC’s project director for the Great American Rail-Trail.
“When multiple states are simultaneously cutting ribbons, breaking ground and acquiring land it sends a powerful message about the value of this infrastructure to the people and places it serves, and to the entire nation.”
Earlier this spring, an agreement was reached with Norfolk Southern that will allow London, Ohio, to advance its plans to complete the Ohio to Erie Trail through town. This is a step forward in developing the last 0.8 miles of the corridor to create a seamless 104-mile trail connection between Dayton and the northern Columbus suburbs.
On Celebrate Trails Day, April 25, the Miami Central Trail opened in Bunker Hill, Indiana adding 5 miles to the Great American route. The new trail extension connects to the Nickel Plate Trail, bringing the total trail segment to 11.9 miles. Plans exist to close the remaining gaps in this region, which would extend the total connected trail mileage to more than 35.
Also on Celebrate Trails Day, Northwest Nebraska Trails Association and the City of Chadron marked progress with the opening of the first mile of the Cowboy Trail Connection, building momentum for the final four miles needed to fully connect the trail with Nebraska’s 200-plus-mile Cowboy Recreation and Nature Trail.
“Completion of the first mile of the Cowboy Trail Connection is an important milestone in trail building in Northwest Nebraska. Linking the Game and Parks’ owned Cowboy Trail with downtown Chadron will prove to have a positive impact as hikers and cyclists explore the city’s historic district. Enthusiasm continues to grow for trail experiences like this one, and Northwest Nebraska looks forward to completing additional miles of trails in the coming years,” said Kerri Rempp, director of tourism with Discover Northwest Nebraska.
In April, Casper, Wyoming, also made progress in its efforts to extend the Platte River Trail east to Edness Kimball Wilkins State Park, completing three miles that bring the trail to the doorstep of the state park. The next phase will add a safe trail crossing of Old Glenrock Highway, completing the connection.
“[This] marks an exciting step forward in connecting Wyoming to the nearly 4,000-mile stretch of the Great American Rail Trail. It’s been a long time coming, and there is still more to go, but these three extra miles give Wyoming families, outdoorsmen and women, and tourists even more opportunities to explore our beautiful state,” said US Senator Cynthia M. Lummis.
“I commend those in this community who worked together to take what was once unused—or perhaps underutilised—land and turn it into something for more to enjoy. It is hard to not be impressed by the ambitions of Great American Rail-Trail and its quest to create and connect a 3,700-mile cross-country route.”
In Washington, on the Sound to Olympics Trail, the first trail segments in Kitsap County’s Port Gamble Park will open this spring, creating connections in the effort to develop the trail from the Puget Sound to Pacific.
Since the route for the Great American Rail-Trail was introduced in 2019, more than 125 miles of new trail have been completed, and more than $161m in federal, state, local and private funding has been invested to advance this vision. Today, the Great American is nearly 56% complete and is expected to unlock more than $229m in annual spending in the communities it serves as it is further developed. More than 160 miles of trail, representing 6% of the route, are currently in the pipeline for development.
“As we celebrate this progress against the backdrop of RTC’s 40th anniversary and America’s 250th birthday, the Great American Rail-Trail represents more than infrastructure and miles on the ground,” said Belle.
“It’s a powerful tool to build community, create new connections to the richness of the country’s history and heritage, and to bring new opportunity to towns and cities nationwide. The Great American Rail-Trail has the power to inspire pride and unite us all.”
