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THE RAIL-PATH TRAIL: Consolidate & Create

THE RAIL-PATH TRAIL: Consolidate & Create. Adam Freck Brian Lee Kevin Smith. Project Overview. Consolidate two existing railways in order to create the most direct trail connection between the Zoo and Towpath

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THE RAIL-PATH TRAIL: Consolidate & Create

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  1. THE RAIL-PATH TRAIL:Consolidate & Create Adam Freck Brian Lee Kevin Smith

  2. Project Overview • Consolidate two existing railways in order to create the most direct trail connection between the Zoo and Towpath • Create an interactive trail center with restaurants, ice cream shops, and bike rentals, • Create a recreation destination with the construction of an extreme sports complex

  3. Study Area • Two Railroad Companies on two lines • North Line: Norfolk Southern • South Line: CSX

  4. Creating Along the Trailhead

  5. CONCEPT: Consolidate …. • Wasted Space • Parallel Routes • Close Proximity • Two railroad tracks = 1 RR track + 1 recreational trail

  6. Inefficient Use of Land

  7. .… and Create • Harvard Junction • Located on Old Harshaw Factory Site • Will be home to: • Restaurants • Ice Cream Shop • Bike Shop / Rental • Canoe and Kayak Rental • Create Jobs • Approximately 50 new jobs • No displacement of current employment • End destination of the Scenic Railway

  8. …still Creating • Extreme recreational facility • Indoor Paintball • Rock Climbing Wall • Indoor BMX/Skate Park

  9. Creating a New Image

  10. How can we do this? RAILS TO TRAILS CONSERVANCY!

  11. Rails to Trails Creating a nationwide network of trails from former rail lines and connecting corridors to build healthier places for healthier people. 13,150 miles of rail-trails with over 100 million users per year.

  12. Rails With Trails • Shared use path or other trail located on or directly adjacent to an active railroad corridor. • 65 RWTs encompass more than 239 miles in 30 U.S. States. • Located adjacent to active rail lines ranging from a few slow-moving short-haul freight trains weekly, to high frequency Amtrak trains traveling as fast as 140 mi/h.

  13. Rails with TrailsFrequency of trains • Estimated 15 trains per day

  14. Rails with TrailsOwnership Government agencies own about half the RWT corridors nationwide. The remainder owned by railroad. The trail management agency purchases a use easement or license from the railroad or transit authority, utility, private landowner.

  15. Rails with TrailsSafety and Liability • No claims filed against railroad companies. • 71% of Rails with Trails use barriers to separate the tracks and the trail

  16. Rails with TrailsSafety and Liability • Railroad company concerns • Trespassing • Injuries • Lawsuits

  17. Rails with TrailsSafety and Liability • Our plan calls for no at grade crossing. • Liability exposure reduction options • Recreational use statute • Trespassing legislation • Rail with trail State statute • Easement/lease agreements that limit liability • Easement/lease agreements with full indemnification • Insurance • Transfer of ownership

  18. Project Success and Feasibility • Seven identifying and determining factors • Recreation • Environment • Jobs • Fiscal Benefits • Time • Cost • Political Interest • Each weighted differently according to the predetermined weighting scale

  19. Recreation • Cyclists • Current usage of 25,900 annually along Big Creek Trail • Upon completion, projected use will increase to 60,000 • Walkers/Joggers • Currently 96,200 users annually • Upon completion, projected use will increase to 190,000 • Cleveland Metroparks Zoo • Approximately 1.3 million visitors per year • Will increase this number by enhanced access and links to Steelyard Commons and Scenic Railway • Extreme Sports • No usage • Extreme Sports Facility • Urban Camping • No proposal along rail lines • OVERALL SCORE: 4

  20. Recreation

  21. Environment • Utilization of remediated Harshaw site with the construction of Harvard Junction • Ecological restoration by removing one RR • OVERALL SCORE: 2

  22. Jobs • Current employment base of 15 • Creation of new jobs • Harvard Junction will create approximately 50 new jobs • Extreme Sports Facility will create 15 • Net increase of 50 jobs created in the Lower Big Creek Area • OVERALL SCORE: 4

  23. Fiscal Benefits • Increase in income tax revenue as 50 new jobs created • 25 Full Time @ $25,000 • 25 Part Time @ $12,500 • Total Taxable Income of $937,500 • New property construction • Increase in property value • One block: 5% • OVERALL SCORE: 4

  24. Time • Railroad Consolidation and Trail Construction • Approx. 1.5 years • Extreme Sports Complex • Approx. 2 years • OVERALL SCORE: 2

  25. Political Interest • Difficult negotiations with CSX and Norfolk Southern • RR concerns: • Competition • Scheduling • Compensation/Cost • Time to build • Harvard Junction success contingent upon Scenic Railroad • Ownership/Management of Trail • Metroparks • City of Cleveland • Cuyahoga County • Old Brooklyn Neighborhood • OVERALL SCORE: 1

  26. Weighting Matrix

  27. CONCLUSIONS FEASIBLE?

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