Commentary: 'Just say no'
Originally appeared in Northern Virginia Daily.
By Rod Shepherd Jan 31, 2024
Editor:
“Just say no” said Nancy Reagan.
That sentiment applies today for the plan to rebuild and run trains along the "removed from service" old railroad connecting Front Royal to Broadway.
The plans for a family and tourist-friendly bike/walking trail (and maybe horseback riding) are well underway. The rail trail will be a significant economic engine to our region and be the best use of this asset.
But the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation plan to take over this line, rebuild the tracks and run trains ruin this possibility. Frankly, Valley citizens are being sold "trains to nowhere."
Is Manassas Gap Railroad an important Civil War historic feature? I don’t think so. The line from Mount Jackson to Broadway did not even exist until after the war. Meanwhile, other than a few months in 1861-62 the rail did not see much activity during the war. Calling this rail line a critical historical feature to Civil War history, well — that dog just won’t hunt.
And if a rebuilt train line was so important to our area, why wasn’t this brought up 15 years ago or even five years ago? The train people showed up clamoring to "save our rails" only after the plans for a rail trail began getting real traction.
Remember also that after two studies of this rail line, Norfolk Southern said they were not interested in restoring this line for trains and that "we don’t recommend anyone else doing it either."
Shenandoah, Warren and Rockingham counties, and nine towns along the line have been collaborating since 2016 to convert this line to a bike trail. The rail trail group has received funding promises from the state and federal governments. Indeed, the current state budget has $35 million originally allocated for purchasing the line for a rail trail. Has this appropriation of your tax money now been switched to a railroad?
Rail trails are not a waste. As an example, the High Bridge Trail in Farmville continues to grow in popularity and adds additional tourist dollars to their economy. The renowned 150 mile Greater Allegheny Passage rail trail in western Pennsylvania brings in $800,000 in economic benefits per year, per mile.
The Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation has an important mission to preserve and interpret important Civil War sites in the valley. It needs to stick to that mission. Wrecking the promising prospect of a bike trail echos Philip Sheridan’s burnings in 1864.
Rod Shepherd is a member of the Mount Jackson Town Council
