Rails-To-Trails: Creating Sustainable Access to America’S Federal Lands

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Rails-to-Trails: Creating Sustainable Access to America’s Federal Lands Kelly Pack Director of Trail Development Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Greenbrier River Trail, West Virginia Monongahela National Forest Our mission… …to create a nationwide network of trails from former rail lines and connecting corridors to build healthier places for healthier people. 1916: 275,000 miles active railway Rail-trail history in U.S. 1,872 open rail-trails | 21,312 miles 701 rail-trail projects | 8,110 miles Capital Crescent Trail, D.C. and Maryland 400+ rail-trails on federal lands – 50% USFS – ~15% DOD – ~15% NPS Paul Bunyan State Trail, Minnesota Chippewa National Forest Railbanking - A voluntary agreement between a railroad company and a trail agency to use an out-of-service rail corridor as a trail until a railroad might need the corridor again for rail service. Historic Union Pacific Rail-Trail State Park, Utah Bureau of Reclamation Marvin M. Brandt Revocable Trust et al. v. United States Medicine Bow Rail-Trail, Wyoming Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest George S. Michelson Trail, South Dakota Black Hills National Forest Iron Horse State Park Trails (John Wayne Pioneer Trail), Washington Bureau of Land Management Klickitat Trail, Washington Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Virginia Creeper Trail, Virginia Jefferson National Forest Elroy-Sparta Trail, Wisconsin Fort McCoy (DOD) Route of the Hiawatha/Olympian Route of the Hiawatha/Olympian, Idaho and Montana Southern Tip Trail • Virginia – USFWS Southern Tip Bike & Hike Trail, Virginia Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge Rails-with-Trails Rails-with-Trails are Common • 217 trails (nearly 10% of rail-trails) • 2,221 miles (39% parallel to rail) • 42 states Cotton Belt Trail, Texas Rails-with-Trails are Growing 60+ rails-with-trails in development Five Star Trail, PA Rails-with-Trails are Safe Two known fatalities involving trail user & train on RWT: South Bay Trail in Bellingham, WA (2008); Santa Fe Rail-Trail, New Mexico (2014) Traction Line Recreation Trail, New Jersey Schuylkill River Trail, Pennsylvania Bayshore bikeway san diego Kelly Pack Director of Trail Development [email protected] Rural areas receive almost twice as much funding per capita as urban areas from the federal Transportation Alternatives program. Active transportation creates more jobs per dollar than highway projects (Garrett-Peltier, 2011) and attract business investment. www.railstotrails.org/beyondurbancenters .

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Iron Horse State Park and John Wayne Pioneer Trail Management Plan April 2, 2000 Appendix C: Page 1
Iron Horse State Park and The John Wayne Pioneer Trail Management Plan Approved June 29, 2000 Washington State Parks Mission The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission acquires, operates, enhances, and protects a diverse system of recreational, cultural, and natural sites. The Commission fosters outdoor recreation and education statewide to provide enjoyment and enrichment for all and a valued legacy to future generations. WASHINGTON STATE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION Washington State Parks Classification and Management Planning Project ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND CONTACTS The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission gratefully acknowledges the many stakeholders of the Iron Horse State Park and John Wayne Pioneer Trail (JWPT) who participated in public meetings, reviewed voluminous materials, and made this a better plan. Iron Horse State Park Management Planning Team Brian Carter, Manager, Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park Management Area Lance Elliott, Park Ranger, Iron Horse State Park (Kittitas Access) Tom Ernsberger, Eastern Region Assistant Manager Daniel Farber, CAMP Team Project co-lead Jim Harris, Eastern Region Manager Peter Herzog, CAMP Team Project co-lead Brian Hovis, Project Manager John Johns, Puget Sound Region Assistant Manager Tim Schmidt, Manager, Lake Easton State Park Management Area Keith Wersland, Park Ranger, Iron Horse State Park (Easton Access) Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission 7150 Cleanwater Lane, P.O. Box 42650 Olympia, WA 98504-2650 Tel: (360) 902-8500 Fax: (360) 753-1594 TDD: (360) 664-3133 Commissioners (when land classification was adopted): Clyde B. Anderson Bruce Hilyer Mickey Fearn Bob Petersen Joan Thomas Dr. Eliot Scull Cecilia Vogt Cleve Pinnix, Director Iron Horse State Park and the John Wayne Pioneer Trail Management Plan June 29, 2000 Page 2 IRON HORSE STATE PARK MANAGEMENT PLAN CERTIFICATE OF ADOPTION The signatures below certify the adoption of this plan by Washington State Parks for the continued management of Iron Horse State Park and the JWPT.
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Don Hoch Director STATE OF WASHINGTON WASHINGTON STATE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION 1111 Israel Road S.W. P.O. Box 42650 Olympia, WA 98504-2650 (360) 902-8500) TDD (Telecommunications Device for the Deaf): (360) 664-3133 www.parks.wa.gov Iron Horse State Park Trail Recommendations Report June 27, 2016 Iron Horse State Park Trail Advisory Committee Meeting Moses Lake 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This report provides a compilation of the recommendations that will be provided to the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission (Commission) for consideration at their July 21, 2016 meeting in Clarkston. The Commission will consider adoption of land classifications and a long-term boundary for the portion of the Iron Horse State Park Trail extending from Lind east to the community of Malden including a long- term boundary that extends from Lind west to the Columbia River and the Beverly Bridge. SUPPORTING INFORMATION Appendix 1: Iron Horse State Park Trail Location and Trail Management Map Appendix 2: Descriptions of Land Classification, Conditional Uses, and Long-Term Boundary Appendix 3: Land Classification and Long-Term Boundary Map Appendix 4: Iron Horse State Park Trail Management Recommendations Appendix 5: Real Estate Plan Appendix 6: Capital Budget Request Appendix 7: Operating Budget Request SIGNIFICANT BACKGROUND INFORMATION Initial acquisition of Iron Horse State Park Trail by the State of Washington occurred in 1981. While supported by many, the sale of the former rail line was controversial for adjacent property owners, some of whom felt that the rail line should have reverted back to adjacent land owners. This concern, first expressed at initial purchase of the trail, continues to influence the planning process today.
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