Statewide Rail Right-of-Way Study Now Completed:

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's (RTC) Western Regional Office is part of a Caltrans team led by the consulting firm Nelson/Nygaard working to map all active and abandoned rail corridors in California using a GIS database and evaluate their potential for future rail passenger service, public transit access, nonmotorized transportation and joint transit/trail use. This is the first time Caltrans has ever studied biking and walking potential of former rail corridors and it's findings should be a great tool for nonmotorized transportation planners and advocates throughout California to highlight opportunities and provide up to date mapping and profiles of potential projects.

As part of this effort, the study team has assembled a group of experts, stakeholders and interest groups from around the state to participate in a study advisory committee (SAC). The SAC held its first meeting on June 30, 2003 in Sacramento and several public meetings took place throughout the State to solicit ideas, data, and feedback from interest parties. The final report and mapping database was completed in February 2005. 

Read Our Project Portfolio About the California Right-of-Way Study