Next Step

Build A Coalition: Develop a broad constituency-who will be using the trail? Contact groups and individuals who are key to transforming this plan into a reality.  Also include all neighbors of the plan, and learn their thoughts early.  Each town will need a coordinator.  Who will that be?

Develop a Feasibility Study: Research needs to be put together (surprising much has) in the economic impact of a rail trail, the state of ownership, use, and owner's rights and considerations.  The study (typically 8-12 pages) will be center stone, and will need local, regional, statewide, and even national distribution to key decision makers and influencers. 

Educate the Public: Since this is a publicly owned entity, the public needs to know what its stakes are.  It should be informed to aspects including development and compensation costs, economic impact, liability, maintenance, and benefits over any possible alternatives.  This will consists of Town Meetings, house parties, newspaper and radio coverage, direct mailing, and of course web and email.

Work with Agencies:  There are too many agencies to list right here and now that are needed to make this dream a reality.  From the local development councils and select boards to the Departments of Transporation and Energy, there are a lot of stakeholders in addition to the immediate public.

Railroad Negotiations: Working WITH the owners of the Grafton and Upton Railroad is of course an aim of this plan.  We would like to develop a plan that is beneficial to both the public and the current owners, and will need to both educate and negotiate with them to come to a mutual understanding.  What is encouraging, is that members of the organization have expressed interest in such a project over the past five years.

Publicity Development: I am a big believer of good publicity id great publicity, and bad publicity is horrible.  Local media outlets such as newspapers and local radio are of course important in developing public interest, but so are churches, recreational groups, the Scouts, schools, and other organizations.  This of course takes quite a bit of time, presenting to so many people, but it is essential.

Find Funding: So how is all of this to be paid?  And at what cost?  Some estimates suggest a very broad rate of "around $100,000 a mile for a rule of thumb", but I have also seen rates of up to $1,000,000 per mile.  Of course these rates depend on labor and material costs versus volunteer and donated materials, complexity of the project, etc, etc.  Overall, it is a good sum of money.  What is fortunate is that on average, projects are funded about 80% at the federal level, and the rest of the burden is shouldered locally, and with the state.  There are many great mechanisms for funding, so don't get upset about these numbers quite yet.  There is a lot of other work to do first.

Work with the Elected: Elections are great.  Politicians who want to stay at their job are even greater.  If public support favors a project such as this, then it has also found a few allies who generally have better ties to federal and state purse strings.  It will be our job to show them what their job will be.

Work with Business: economic impact studies are a great way to demonstrate to businesses that you are on their side.  No rail - trail built in the U.S. has ever negatively impacted its region for obvious reasons.  By demonstrating to businesses (especially local retail and real estate) the impacts of such an endeavor, you have just won yourself some very important allies.

Implementation Planning and Development Execution:  This is where the fun begins.  We must have an overall plan to reach our goal.  Is the trail a viable idea? How much will it cost? When can it be done? Are only three of hundreds of questions that need answers before a tie is taken from the ground.  The trail, in addition to community leaders, will need a guidance organization (Friends of GURT, etc.) to manage all of these aspects, including the two below.

Opening the Trail: Opening Day. Has everything been taken care of?  Interpretation, insurance, maintenance plans, crossing information, etc?  How will the first day of use be similar to every day of use?  How will it be special?

Management of the Trail: Long after the crowds of the first day's activities are gone, how will the trail be managed on a regular basis?  Will it function as a separate entity, or be incorporated into each town's parks departments? And how will this be paid for?  The trail also will need to continue to have an advisory board, to manage special, seasonal and annual events that may occur on the trail.

(adapted from Secrets of Successful Rail-Trails, edited by Karen-Lee Ryan and Julie A Winterich, 1993.)