May 22, 2012
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (AP) -- A master plan for the first rails-to-trails project in East Tennessee is in the works.
Officials in Johnson City gave their approval to begin the work of compiling the plan that will serve as a guide to develop the pedestrian-friendly 10-mile trail from Johnson City to Elizabethton that is being called the "Tweetsie Trail."
Glenn Berry with the Johnson City Metropolitan Transportation Planning Organization told the Johnson City Press that the plan will give the project focus.
"This will allow us to bring all the ideas together," he said. "We will be having public meetings, but we want to wait until conceptual drawings are available. Overall, we expect the development of the master plan to take about eight months."
The city plans to apply for grants and enlist the aid of hiking clubs and outdoor enthusiasts to help build the trail, but Berry said that wouldn't happen right away.
"There's nothing worse than getting a grant and finding out it won't be enough," he said. "It's impossible to know right now what the trail might cost. There are still too many unknowns, and it may be this will be done in phases."
The practice of rails-to-trails or railbanking allows use of an unused section of railroad to be used for trails, but preserves the corridor in case future railroad service is feasible.
The nearest rails-to-trails project is the Virginia Creeper Trail that begins in Abingdon, Va.
The city offered Genesee & Wyoming, the parent company of East Tennessee Railway, $600,000 last year to convert the corridor. Work to remove tracks and other equipment along the trail began about two months ago.
Dan Reese, who is chairman of the Tweetsie Trail Historical Association, said there is strong public support for the project.
"It's my opinion this is a wise decision regarding green infrastructure," he said.
In addition, he said the company chosen to draw up the master plan, Durham, N.C.-based Alta/Greenways, has worked on several similar projects.
"Alta is one of the most respected railbanking companies in the United States," he said. "They are very attuned to working with the public. Sensitivity to that is one of their strongest traits."
