California Rail Right-of-Way Study
Years: 2004-2005

Location
California (statewide)

Prepared for
California Department of Transportation

Partners
NelsonNygaard Consulting Services; LTK Engineering Services; System Metrics Group, Inc.

Project Deliverable
California Rail Right-of-Way and Abandoned Corridors Study

Read the Study
Chapters 1 and 2 (PDF)
Chapters 3, 4 and Appendicies (PDF)

Project Description
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) partnered with several firms to conduct this statewide rail corridor assessment that, for the first time, evaluated the potential for nonmotorized (i.e., trail) use of railroad right-of-way throughout California. This informative and ambitious undertaking aimed to capture vital information about California's rail corridor network, and helped to identify and assess opportunities for a variety of public transportation uses, including passenger rail, other transit, and rail-trail conversion along both active and inactive rail corridors throughout the Golden State. Specific objectives of the study included:

• Developing a GIS database which identified and described all active, inactive and abandoned rail corridors in California;
• Evaluating the potential for conversion of corridors to passenger rail and trail use;
• Evaluating the potential for rails-with-trails and public transit linkage opportunities along operating rail corridors.

RTC helped develop the evaluation criteria, collect data on corridors and rail-trails statewide, and generate public comment and participation in the study. The study and GIS database are now available for viewing on the Caltrans Web site.