California Rails-with-Trails Survey
Years: 2009

Location
California (statewide)

Prepared for
Healthy Transportation Network

Partners
Trail managers for the trails included in this report.

Project Deliverable
California Rails-with-Trails Survey (PDF)

Project Description
One of the fastest growing areas of trail construction nationwide is next to active rail lines, which offer space in tight urban areas and uninterrupted linear connectivity. Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's (RTC) 2009 report explores 21 rail-with-trail projects in California with a survey of trail managers and a literature review of previous studies.

The survey contains sections that focus on the growth of rails-with-trails, benefits, safety, liability, adjacent railroad characteristics and design issues. With major planned rail-with-trail projects in Sonoma, Marin, Santa Cruz and San Diego counties, the survey gives trail planners, engineers, elected officials and advocates current examples of successful projects around the state that can help them design a safe, convenient facility.

The report highlights a range of successful strategies that were employed to address diverse challenges, many of them unique to rail-withtrail projects. These case studies contain a range of best practices for sharing of the corridor and development of infrastructure and amenities. RTC's Western Regional Office has regular contact with trail managers throughout the region, which enables us to quickly research and compile useful case studies and solutions for challenges related to trail development.