Saw on the news this morning that the state is currently meeting on converting abandoned and vacant rails/railways into multi use trails and that there are currently at least 300 miles of trails that could be easily converted at very little cost, which would also connect and access to over 700 miles of existing trails, towns....etc. This would be a very good thing for snowmobiling, state, towns, local businesses i.e. bars, restaurants, gas stations during the winter months. With massive budget shortfalls we will see if this will actually transpire, but lets hope it does.
Rails to trails
- Thread starter euphoric1
- Start date
Don't forget fat tire bikes!! It seems like all the things that don't pay registration $$ get the nice trails/bridges/access....
durphee, they did not say where, we too have a bunch of abandoned or vacant rail in my neck of woods some of which is used for multi purpose trail and some not, and in response to post above they said it would be multi use trail including snowmobiles, they stated that there was a bunch of vacant railways and that 300 miles of it could be easily converted for little cost, suggestion that there was much more, was surprised to hear that on morning news, hopefully it comes true.
"If it sounds too good to be true...."
Call me the skeptic here but for anyone that has brushed trails the word "easy" probably doesn't come up in conversation. Realize that Mother Nature quickly over takes anything man has built and abandoned with copious amounts of brush, downed trees, rocks and debris. Let's also remember the bridges that will be required with such a project.
Just playing Devil's Advocate here but it sounds like the media pulled this one out of a dark place.....
snobuilder
Well-known member
I'd watch this one to see where the funds will come from....can you say highway transportation funds as an "alternate" form of transportaion?
Not much economic impact with these bicycle folks. They bring tuna fish, and water. And hope they put the trash where it belongs.
That was my exact lunch today from Panera Bread. Wish it has cheese on it though.
Bear
Yep. Lanesboro MN. Epicenter for bike trails in rural SE MN. Last winter a group of us on snowmobiles showed up in Lanesboro about 11 am. Hungry we thought we would get lunch. Walked up to this pizza joint and pulled on a locked door. Before we could get 5 steps away the door flew open and this young lady said "COME ON IN!!" We love snowmobile season. Them bike riders all they want to do is fill their water bottle and use our bathroom!!" Needless to say the 4 of us ate and drank and left over 100 bucks on the table. Tell me whats better for the economy. Oh and bear why didn't you ask for cheese?
venturenorth
Member
in Mi , I for one would love to see the abandoned rail line from Sidnaw to Covington cleared for sleds.....they've been talking about it for years....would be another option, especially with all the recent washouts on 8/15
xsledder
Active member
Wasn't that one of the reasons to increase the trail permit? To get more easements, hence more trails? I was looking at some of my old maps and the trail lines are disappearing with nothing new to replace them. How many new trails have been added since the trail pass increase?
Now that would be sweeeet especially with the steak house and gas station in Covington. My understanding is all that has to happen is groom it. You can ditch bang it but too old for that stuff.
I know Northwestern tracks south of Lake Geneva would have been ideal for snowmobile trails going thru swamps but private land owners bought it. It was great walking thru there pheasant hunting before it was privately owned. I hope the state can acquire some of these rail grades but big money usually gets there first with their money.
Word is the Railroad plans to tear out another 10 miles of Track from Rockland to south of Mass City. I don't know if its been announced yet. I do know there is a very bad section just SE of the Mass Wood yard. There is a Culvert that is washing out and the track is sinking. You can not see it from the Road. I was told that there are worse spots than that on that section. The Train is limited to 10 mph on that section and the only customer is LP shipping out of the Mass City Wood Yard. They are storing some Frack Sand Cars on the Track up to Hwy 45. I don't think there is enough Rail traffic to fix that section up and it needs fixing if they are going to use it for Rail traffic.
That would get Trail 12 off the Fields and Private Land.
Maybe they plan to start using the Yard at Russo instead, that pretty much gets them out of Clay Country and it is probably 10 miles south of Rockland.
That would get Trail 12 off the Fields and Private Land.
Maybe they plan to start using the Yard at Russo instead, that pretty much gets them out of Clay Country and it is probably 10 miles south of Rockland.
Tons of unfunded trails are now funded because of the trail pass. Not sure of "new" trails yet, but once unfunded trails are funded, new trails can be made. A club can only have so many miles of unfunded trails.