State budget allocates $35 million to Shenandoah Rail Trail project
The Shenandoah Valley Rail Trail project is set to receive $35 million in state funding
Published on September 7, 2023
The unused railroad corridor that is slated to become the future Sheanndaoh Rail Trail. Bridge Crossing the North Fork of the Shenandoah River near Strasburg, Virginia.
The Shenandoah Valley Rail Trail project is set to receive $35 million in state funding thanks to budget amendments passed by the Virginia legislature on Wednesday.
Friends of the Shenandoah Rail Trail announced Wednesday afternoon that the budget allocation will be used for land acquisition, initial planning and site development of the project that will create a multi-use trail through Warren, Shenandoah, and Rockingham counties.
The Shenandoah Rail Trail Exploratory Partnership envisions a 48.5-mile, recreational trail that would run along an inactive single-track railroad corridor, currently owned by Norfolk Southern Corp.
The trail would stretch between Broadway and Front Royal and pass through or near the towns of Timberville, New Market, Mount Jackson, Edinburg, Woodstock, Toms Brook and Strasburg. It would provide bicyclists, walkers, joggers and equestrians with access to parks, businesses, schools, scenic landscapes, Civil War battlefield sites and other cultural and historic resources.
The Exploratory Partnership held a series of 10 community meetings from February through April to inform the public about the proposed project and has continued working with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB), and other state agencies to move the project forward, said Don Hindman, project director of the Exploratory Partnership. He said in July that the Exploratory Partnership was ready to make a bid to buy the corridor as soon as it received a letter of intent from the CTB. The cost of purchasing the railroad corridor could range from $15 to $25 million.
“We are eager to celebrate the groundbreaking for the new trail in Broadway. I would like to thank our state legislators for including budget language to initiate this process. In my 10 years as mayor, there’s never been a project with as much local support as the Shenandoah Rail Trail,” said Broadway Mayor Timothy S. Proctor.
The almost 50-mile trail enjoys formal support from all nine towns and three counties along the corridor, according to a press release from Friends of the Shenandoah Rail Trail.
In addition to the support of local governments, Civil War Trails, Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce, Shenandoah County Chamber of Commerce, Shenandoah Valley Partnership for economic development, Shenandoah Valley Tourism Partnership, and Virginia Tourism Corporation are all on record in support of the Shenandoah Rail Trail, according to the press release.
A completed economic impact analysis predicts trail visitors, spending money at local businesses and the creation of new jobs, will inject $32.3 million per year into the local economy, and the expanded economy in the region is projected to generate higher tax revenue each year for the state and local government.
“We are so grateful to the state for recognizing the importance of outdoor recreation. Front Royal, because of its close proximity to the Appalachian Trail, knows firsthand how valuable a trail can be for a community,” said Front Royal Mayor Lori Cockrell. “Access to trails not only positively impacts the local economies, but it improves the quality of life for those who live there.”
The newly released budget amendments also enable the Commonwealth to preserve rail corridors for the highest and best public use. According to the Exploratory Partnership, this will be accomplished through railbanking, a federal program that keeps the corridor intact in case economic conditions change and Norfolk Southern or another railroad want to reclaim the corridor and reactivate rail service.
“We agree that the corridor should be railbanked in case freight or passenger rail service becomes viable again,” said Mayor Daniel Harshman of Edinburg. “In the meantime, let’s start building the trail. The reawakening of this unused corridor will be a game changer for our region by connecting communities along the 48-mile route in a way they haven’t seen since the trains did run. Converting the corridor into a trail will preserve an integral part of our history as rail towns and give local folks and visitors alike a safe way to travel and enjoy the outdoors, while allowing the corridor to serve our communities once again in a very positive way.”
The inclusion of investments in trail systems across the Commonwealth in the budget amendment expands access to trails and parks across the state, the press release said, adding that multi-use trails are not only a draw for visitors but improve the quality of life for those who live there and ensure more access to Virginia’s beautiful landscape for generations to come.
Also receiving funding through the newly created State Trails Office are: Craig Valley Trail, Peaks to Creeks Trail, Tobacco Heritage Trail, and Eastern Shore Rail Trail.
Any remaining funding provided for trails shall be allocated by the CTB to the trails listed above, as needed, the Fall Line Trail, or any other trail that has applied for funding that meets the certain criteria, the press release said.
— Contact Laura Ruby at lruby@nvdaily.com
