Editor’s Note: This is part one of a two part series on the benefits of the Rails to Trails program. For more information on Laurel’s plans, see Monday’s edition of the Laurel Leader-Call. Also see page A3 of today’s print edition for detailed plans in Laurel.

Abandoned railroad tracks are gaining new life in many areas around the United States, and Laurel will soon be one of those areas.

The Rails to Trails program gives new life to old track beds by providing a paved surface for walkers, bicyclists and skaters.

In late 2006 Laurel was awarded $253,760 from the Mississippi Department of Transportation as part of a traffic enhancement program.

“The funding for Rails to Trails comes out of our federal highway fund,” said MDOT Southern District Transportation Commissioner Wayne Brown.

“The United States congress sets aside about two percent of the federal highway funds for traffic enhancement. It is for things that make traveling a more pleasurable experience. We fund Rails to Trails through those funds.”

Brown said that the program has proven to be very popular, and has been well received by the public.

“It is one of the more popular programs we deal with,” he said. “I think it is important to preserve these old rights of way for recreational use.”

An example of a Rails to Trails project in the MDOT southern district is the Longleaf Trace, which stretches for 41 miles between Hattiesburg and Prentiss.

The first initial portion of the project was 39 miles, but an additional two miles was added to stretch the Hattiesburg portion onto the University of Southern Mississippi’s campus.

“The part that I was most thrilled about was the extension to the Southern Miss campus,” said James Moore, Petal alderman and president of Bike Walk Mississippi.

“The trail has a lot more users now that it reaches into the city.”

The trail serves as both a conduit for transportation, and recreation.

Moore, who uses the trail regularly, said that he often sees students biking to class, or other residents going to work adorning uniforms or carrying briefcases.