Best rail to trail yet?

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Long Run
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Joined: Sat Apr 17, 2010 2:47 pm

Best rail to trail yet?

Post by Long Run »

Looks awesome if they can pull this off.

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An old railroad right-of-way could one day be transformed into a hiking trail stretching from San Francisco Bay to Humboldt Bay through some of the North Coast's most scenic country.

A bill authored by state Sen. Mike McGuire would create the 300-mile-long Great Redwood Trail, which some people think could rival the Sierra Nevada's John Muir Trail for spectacular terrain and breathtaking vistas.

As envisioned by McGuire, a Healdsburg Democrat, the trail would wind through the 50-mile Eel River Canyon, one of the state's most pristine — and least accessible — wilderness areas. The Eel was designated a Wild and Scenic River in 1981.

But even though McGuire's measure (SB 1029) enjoys bipartisan support and unanimously passed 36-0 in the state Senate at the end of May, the Great Redwood Trail faces significant challenges beyond the Legislature and the governor's office.

For one thing, it would cost tens of millions — maybe hundreds of millions — and not just for the construction of the trail. So far, only $4 million has been earmarked for rail crossing repairs and an initial right-of-way study and trail master plan. Future studies, track improvements and other costs would raise the price tag considerably.

Much of the trail would be built on the right-of-way of the Northwestern Pacific Railroad, "The Redwood Empire Route," partially owned by the North Coast Railroad Authority. In some areas, the trail would run where the old rail bed lies. Where service is still operating, however, it would parallel the tracks.

The railroad is currently running freight service on only 62 miles of line between Schellville and Windsor. The trains stopped operating through Eel River Canyon in 1996, and the authority has stated there are no plans to resume. Restoring the line in the canyon would cost a fortune — reportedly up to $1 billion.

The Ukiah-based authority, a public agency created in 1989 to keep the North Coast freight line from going belly up, has been something a money pit for the state. As the Santa Rosa Press Democrat notes, it loses about $250,000 per year and has racked up a debt of $9.5 million.

Under SB 1029, the state would dissolve the authority and resolve its debt, and place commuter train operator Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit in charge of railroad freight service in its two counties. SMART would also be responsible for the southern build-out of the Great Railroad Trail.

A new entity, the Great Redwood Trail Agency would be charged with constructing and maintaining a hiking, biking and equestrian trail in or parallel to the northern portion of the right-of-way, from Willits to Arcata.

Major environmental organizations like the League of Conservation Voters, the Sierra Club, Trout Unlimited and dozens more are backing SB 1029. The California Transportation Commission is also in support of the bill.

"From the San Francisco Bay, through the incredible beauty of wine country, alongside the glistening banks of the Russian and Eel Rivers, into the stunning old growth Redwood forests, and up to and around panoramic Humboldt Bay — this is truly an incredible piece of earth," McGuire said in a statement.

"SB 1029 sets the stage to turn this 300-mile long-suffering train track into a world renowned trail system that will benefit locals and visitors alike and be a boon to our local economies."
https://m.sfgate.com/outdoors/article/G ... 6VqUp8masU

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Bicycle Bill
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Location: Surrounded by Trumptards in Rockland, WI – a small rural village in La Crosse County

Re: Best rail to trail yet?

Post by Bicycle Bill »



... and so would I.
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-"BB"-
Yes, I suppose I could agree with you ... but then we'd both be wrong, wouldn't we?

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