By Lacey Walters/correspondent@laurelleadercall.com
January 06, 2008 01:04 pm
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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.
“When ever you can take federal money, and create a recreational area that also serves utilitarian purposes, then you have really doubled your benefit to the community,” Moore said.
“You would be surprised at the number of people in Hattiesburg and Laurel that are employed, but don’t own cars,” he continued. “When trails begin to make connections, they connect neighborhoods to schools, neighborhoods to shops and neighborhoods to work. That’s when it begins to provide the greatest benefit to the community.”
Moore said that estimates based on traffic counts show that the Longleaf Trace is used 100,000 times a year. Though the trace has seen great success with its current 41 miles, plans are in place to continue expanding the trace to provide even more benefits to area citizens. Moore said that current plans call for an addition that will connect the University of Southern Mississippi’s campus with downtown Hattiesburg, and if the vision continues to expand possibly connections to Petal.
“We are working to extend the Longleaf Trace by two miles to connect the Southern Miss campus with downtown,” Moore said. “Students can then live downtown and bike to class.”
Not only do trails attract local residents and provide many benefits to citizens, but Moore said trails attract visitors from all over the state, even those looking to relocate.
“Laurel is doing a good job of marketing their area, but people look at this type of thing, so it will be one more positive to market when trying to attract new people to the area,” Moore said. “This is one more thing that will make your community stand apart from other communities in Mississippi.”
Laurel’s Rails to Trails plan calls for the utilization of sections of abandoned track, including the Teresa Street overpass that was removed years ago due to safety and health hazards. A new bridge will be constructed using the remaining columns from the previous train overpass. The new trail system will provide access from the Laurel Train Depot to Gardiner Park. One important factor included in the Rails to Trails program is the conservation of Laurel’s historic integrity.
For information on the project in Laurel, see Monday’s Leader-Call.
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