Trail Maintenance and Operation - Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

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Vegetation and Drainage Vegetation is the frame for many trail experiences. It provides beauty, habitat, shade and even modest shelter. Vegetation can also be one of a trail manager’s biggest challenges, as it is rarely content to stay beside the trail, but rather wants to be on the trail. Weeds and grass want to grow onto the trail. Tree limbs and even whole trees fall onto and block the trail. Vegetation could simply be eliminated, but trails would be greatly diminished in form and function. It is therefore necessary to strike a balance between nature and a well-maintained trail. Almost all trails report having a grass strip along both sides of the trail, varying in width from one to 20 feet. Trees also grow along virtually every trail, and nearly 90 percent have a tree canopy over the trail. The following percentages indicate the trails that perform these maintenance tasks related to vegetation and trailside land: Litter clean-up 78% Mowing 90% Leaf removal 23% Pruning 75% Invasive species removal 36% Tree removal: Fallen 86% Health/safety 60% Aesthetics 19% Other 6% Tree and shrub planting 39% Flower planting 22% Approximately one-third of trails use a chemical herbicide, with Roundup being by far the most commonly mentioned product. Top: Capital Area Greenbelt, Pa. (Tim Poole); Middle: Cochituate Rail-Trail, Conn. (Courtesy of Rails-to-Trails Conservancy) Bottom left: Illinois Pairie Path, Ill. (Darren Smith); Bottom right: York County Heritage Rail-Trail, Pa. (Courtesy of Rails-to-Trails Conservancy) 14 • RAIL-TRAIL MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS
Drainage is accomplished in the following ways: Crowned or sloped trail 71% Ditches or gullies 80% Culverts 80% Other 7% Drainage structures are cleaned using the following methods: Power equipment 42% Manual (rake, shovel) 70% Flush with water 4% Self-cleaning design 28% Other 0% American Discovery Trail, Iowa (Courtesy of Rails-to-Trails Conservancy) How to Make a Pruning Cut LARGE LIMBS: A: Make a partial cut from beneath. B: Make a second cut from above several inches out and allow the limb to fall. C: Complete the job with a final cut just outside the branch collar. SMALL BRANCHES: Make a sharp clean cut, just beyond a lateral bud or other branch. Source: National Arbor Day Foundation RAILS-TO-TRAILS CONSERVANCY • 15
Page 2 and 3: Table of Contents Preface .........
Page 4 and 5: Introduction In about two decades,
Page 6 and 7: Administrative and Financial This s
Page 8 and 9: Table 5: Asphalt/Non-asphalt Trail
Page 10 and 11: Liability, Insurance and Public Saf
Page 12 and 13: Trail Surfaces The trail surface is
Page 14 and 15: Allegheny River Trail, Pa. (Jim Hol
Page 18 and 19: Trailheads and Amenities Top: Prair
Page 20 and 21: ACCESS CONTROL Most trails are open
Page 22 and 23: Bridges and Tunnels Table 13: Mater
Page 24 and 25: Design and Construction Tips for Ea
Page 26 and 27: 24 • RAIL-TRAIL MAINTENANCE AND O
Page 28 and 29: All: Capital Area Greenbelt, Pa. (C
Page 30 and 31: Appendix 1 - Resources for Trail Ma
Page 32 and 33: Maintenance Activity Maintenance of
Page 34 and 35: Activity July August September Tota
Page 36 and 37: The following was submitted for the
Page 38 and 39: The following budget was submitted
Page 40 and 41: Appendix 4 - Survey Participants Tr
Page 42 and 43: Survey Participants Air Line State
Page 44: Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Northea

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