Central Valley Rail-Trails: Opportunities & Strategies Laura Cohen, J.D. and Steve Schweigerdt Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Western Region Office December 3, 2009 Presentation Outline Introduction to RTC and the rail-trail movement Rails-with-Trails Railbanking Regional Trail Network Opportunities Partnerships, Funding & Maintenance RTC Web Resources 1
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Creating a nationwide network of trails from former rail lines and connecting corridors to build healthier places for healthier people. National Railroad System 2
Recycling Railroads 1667 Open rail-trails Over 22,000 miles of trail open Over 16,000 miles on rail right-of-way Rails-to-Trails Conservancy: What we Do Trail Advocates shaping policy, creating funding Trail Planning technical assistance Trail DART Track abandonments & notify local partners Develop information resources, create learning networks 3
Rails-with-Trails Rails-with-Trails Grow th of California Rail-w ith-trails 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Total Miles Adjacent to Active Rail 4
Reasons for Rails-with-Trails Available space Natural linear corridor Safety Efficiency Improve access to transit Safety and Liability Railroad company s main concern Key challenge to the rails-with-trails movement 140 existing trails nationwide with 1,154 miles of trail 5
Benefits for Railroads Improved safety Reduced crime and trespassing Reduced motor access to tracks Improved railroad maintenance Improved access for police and maintenance vehicles Corridor beautification Improved community relations Working with Railroads Do your research Understand the RR s perspective Coordinated approach Pinpoint their concerns Look for leverage with RR needs Railroads can benefit too - make the case 6
Other Trail Network Opportunities River Corridors Canals Road ROWs Transit Corridors Fresno-Clovis Area 7
Visalia-Tulare-Porterville Area Map of planned Merced-Atwater Area Map of planned 8
Railbanking Railbanking What is it? How do you do it? What are the benefits to the railroad? Railbanking Part of National Trails System Act Amendments of 1983 Retains the STB jurisdiction over the corridor Can be reactivated for later rail use Preempts state law with regards to reversionary rights Milwaukee Road Corridor, Idaho Available for Interim Trail Use 9
Funding: Putting It All Together Funding: Ideas for Piecing it Together Tried & True Sources Federal programs - TE State programs - Bicycle Transportation Account Local sources: sales tax measures Park/Water/Infrastructure bonds Developer mitigation Getting Creative Civic partnerships Adopt-a-Trail; Buy a Foot Corporate partnerships Dedications Endowment campaigns Local events Benefit Assessment District 10
Funding Resources Handout Rails-to-Trails: Funding Guide on RTC s Western Region web page: www.railstotrails.org/wherewework/western CA Bicycle Coalition: Guide to Bike Funding: www.calbike.org/resources Funding Local Sources Measure C Fresno ½-cent transportation sales tax 20-yr extension passed 2007 Total $1.7 Billion 6% - Alternative transportation ($102M) 3.4% Environmental Enhancements ($60M) 11
Funding State Sources Bicycle Transportation Account (Caltrans) - $7.2 M Environmental Enhancement & Mitigation Program (Resources Agency) - $10 M Bond funds - transportation; park; water San Joaquin River Conservancy Funding Federal Sources Existing: Transportation Enhancements (TE) CMAQ Comm. Devel. Block Grants ARRA & TIGER (Stimulus bill) Safe Routes to School Non-motorized Pilot Program Potential: 2010 Campaign for Active Transportation Climate Bill (CLEAN-TEA) 12
Funding Federal Sources : TE Transportation Enhancements (TE) Part of federal transportation legislation Major source of bike-ped funding since 1991: Nationwide TE b/p = $4.64 billion; CA TE b/p= $419 million Safe Routes to School In 2005, Congress approved federal Safe Routes to School program $612 million - 5 years 13
Safe Routes to School (cont.) Each State DOT receives minimum $1 M annual federal funding Funds programs and infrastructure improvements that encourage students to walk and bike to school 2010 Campaign for Active Transportation Build active transportation movement to: Create $2 billion Active Transportation Program Purpose: achieve mode shift to bicycling & walking Concentrated investments $25-75M per community over 5 years Rep. Blumenauer bill 12/09 14
Active Transportation Campaign Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Campaign website: National campaign info, newsletter Issue briefs: economic benefits, environment, climate change, mobility & more www.railstotrails.org/2010 What is Active Transportation? YOU 15
Creative Partnerships - Civic Modesto Virginia Corridor Abandoned Tidewater Southern line 4.2 mile rail-trail started in 2005 Backbone of trail system connects to Hetch Hetchy, Dry Creek, and Tuolumne River corridors Creative Partnerships - Civic Modesto Virginia Corridor Leadership from the City of Modesto Extensive community support Rotary Club: $500,000 16
Creative Partnerships - Health Medical Mile - Arkansas River Trail 17
Active Transportation as public health strategy 18
Creative Funding Ideas to Borrow Plant Now, Pave Later : Leasing a rail-trail ROW for vineyards in Orange County Partnerships with local merchants: Annie & Mary Blend coffee Festivals, races, special events Trail of 2 Cities Marathon Volunteer Trail Patrols Adopt-a-Mile Memorial features Tahoe Rim Trail benefit race Funding for Maintenance Develop a Comprehensive Budget and Maintenance Plan Research existing costs Create maintenance checklist with costs Divide list into routine and major Final task develop maintenance schedule 19
Funding for Maintenance Sources other than General Fund: Non-profit/private stewardship Volunteer maintenance Conservation Corps Events; Tourism/recreation fees Corporate and foundation partners Develop long term maintenance endowment Assessment Districts Developer fees and mitigation Volunteer Maintenance Helps reduce maintenance costs Instills a feeling of community pride Informal group of volunteers vs. Adopt-a-Trail Enlist all types of volunteers for all types of activities Baltimore and Annapolis Trail, MD 20
On railstotrails.org: Rail-Trail Stats, FAQ Toolbox Library Early Warning System Listserv TrailBlog & Blogroll Urban Pathways It s all Searchable! New RTC Web Resources 21
Education/Research/Technical Assistance RTC Western Region Laura Cohen, J.D., Director laura@railstotrails.org Steve Schweigerdt, Trail Development Manager steve@railstotrails.org Phone: (415)814-1100 22