Rail Trail Information

Since 1970, railroad companies have abandoned more than 763 miles of railway in South Carolina (see list). During the same period, trail-related activities became extraordinarily popular, consistently ranking among the ten most popular outdoor recreation activities. And as the cost of trail building and maintenance continued to swell, it didn’t take long for trail advocates to establish a connection.

Why not convert these 100-foot wide stretches of abandoned railroad reds into safe and attractive greenways for trail enthusiasts? That’s the gist of the national rail-trails movement.

While nobody advocates abandonment, many citizens have become interested in putting these corridors to good use. Historians like the idea because it preserves an important part of our nation’s past, while conservationists favor protecting important natural areas. For senior citizens and the physically challenged, rail-trails provide levels surfaces that are easy to maneuver. And since railroads often link towns and frequently parallel today’s highways, accessibility is another bonus.

But this conversion has been a long time coming. In the 1920s, America’s 260,000 miles of track was the most extensive railroad network in the world. Today, only 140,000 railroad miles remain in use. After almost 40 years of slow-but-steady progress, rail-trail advocates have managed to convert over 10,000 miles of rail-trails in across the country. There are some 1,000 rail-trails open to the public. The national Rails-to-Trails Conservancy estimates 100 million Americans used rail-trails in 1999. That included rail-trail opportunities as diverse as a short trail in a city park or a wilderness tract traversing more than 50 miles!

Enthusiasm for rail-trail conversions is gaining steam. Railroad companies continue to centralize their operations and have plans to abandon an additional 40,000 miles of rail corridors across the nation over the next decade. Despite stumbling blocks that include a complex railway abandonment process, limited opportunities for local input, and occasional resistance from landowners, the movement seems to have momentum on its side.

Why Preserve Corridors and Develop Rail-Trails?

Outdoor Recreation: Rail-trails provide places for bicycling, walking, bird watching, picnicking, rollerblading, jogging, and, in many places, horseback riding.

Quality of Life: Rail-trails improve overall quality of life in communities by making the area a more attractive place to live and work and by increasing the value of adjacent residential and commercial properties.

Alternative Transportation: Rail-trails provide energy-alternate transportation routes for walking and bicycling to school, work, and shopping.

Education: Rail-trails can serve as vital outdoor environmental laboratories and cultural interpretation areas for area schools and universities.

Economic Vitality: Rail-trails can bring new economic vitality to a community by bringing in new industry and tourism, encouraging new trail-related business development and enhancing community growth.

Corridor Preservation: Rail-trails help to make use of valuable rail corridors that are being preserved for future other transportation options, such as commuter rails.

Community Cohesion: Rail-trails are safe places where children and adults can gather for festivals, picnics, and informal socializing and, thus, build a sense of community.

What Can You Do?

Support local efforts to create rail-trails. Let local officials know you back this important endeavor. Learn as much as you can about rails-to-trails conversions.

Join the Rails-To-Trails Conservancy, 1100 Seventeenth Street NW, Washington, DC 20036, 202-331-9696, Fax: 202-331-9680. RTC is a national non-profit organization that provides public education, technical assistance, and advocacy.

Seek advice and help from the Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program (RTCA) of the National Park Service. RTCA, Atlanta Federal Center, 1924 Bldg., 100 Alabama St., SW, Atlanta, GA 30303, 404-562-3282. RTCA supports a community-based approach to rail-trail development by encouraging cooperation between local public and private groups. RTCA does not own, build, or manage rail-trail corridors; instead, they provide you with the information and expertise to get the job done.

In South Carolina, the most successful rail-trail conversions have occurred when individuals and communities work cooperatively with local landowners, slowly acquiring small segments of abandoned rail beds. The process, while sometimes slow and complex, can yield rewarding results and benefit many people for many years to come.