Trail Maintenance and Operation - Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

Introduction
In about two decades, rail-trails have risen from obscurity to become highly
valued amenities for many American communities. Rail-trails preserve natural
and cultural resources, and provide both residents and tourists with attractive
places to recreate and safe routes to their destinations. Their well-earned popularity
has led to an explosion in the development of rail-trails, with more than 13,000 miles
now in operation in the United States. See Table 1. Some rail-trails have already
overcome legal battles or tedious funding processes. But the biggest challenge could
lie ahead. For 13,000 miles of rail-trails—and more than twice that when all the
current development projects come to fruition—will now have to be maintained in
perpetuity.
Many of the same questions that faced early trail developers now face trail
managers. What needs to be done? How do I do it? Who will do it? Who will pay
for it? Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) recognized the vacuum for this information
nearly a decade ago and in 1996 published the first-ever study regarding the
maintenance of rail-trails, “Rail-Trail Maintenance: Preparing for the Future of Your
Trail.” This study has provided valuable information to trail managers, planners,
volunteers and others as they consider budgetary issues, staffing, equipment and
various other needs related to the long-term maintenance of their rail-trails. Today
the trails community has many more miles under its collective belt, literally and
figuratively, and there is now more information about more trails. Through additional
and enhanced data collected for this study in 2004, a more comprehensive
assessment of old, young and new trails is now available. And so, we have updated
and re-titled our publication,“Rail-Trail Maintenance and Operations: Ensuring the
Future of Your Trail—A Survey of 100 Rail-Trails.”
Table 1: Number and Miles of Open Rail-Trail
2 • RAIL-TRAIL MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS