Latest Reports and Information

WVRTC News

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Printed Maps Available.

• Mon River, Caperton, Deckers Creek,  and Cheat Haven Rail-Trails in Monongalia, Preston and Marion counties. To get your copy, e-mail the Greater Morgantown Convention and Visitors Bureau or call 1-800-458-7373.
  
• West Fork River Rail-Trail in Marion county
  Available from the Marion County CVB by calling 1-800-8437365
  
• Allegheny Highlands Rail-Trail in Tucker and Randolph counties
  Call the Tucker County CVB at 1-800-782-2775 or the Randolph ContyCVB 800-422-3304
• North Bend Rail-Trail State Park in Harrison, Doddridge, Ritchie and Wood counties
  E-mail the Ritchie County Chamber of Commerce or call (304) 643-2500 for your copy.
  
• Greenbrier River and West Fork Rail-Trails in Pocahontas and Greenbrier counties
  E-mail the Pocahontas County CVB or call 1-800-336-7009 for your copy.
  
• Wheeling Heritage Rail-Trail in Ohio county
  E-mail the Wheeling CVB or call 1-800-828-3097 for your copy.
  

Statewide Meetings and Events

WVRTC to Meet in February

Please mark your calendars for February 2, 2003 (Sunday) from 1 to 4 PM for the next Quarterly meeting of the WVRTC. We will meet at Larry's Steak House in Flatwoods, just off I-79 formerly the Western Steer.

For more information please email Kathleen Panek, Executive Director, WVRTC

Trail-Specific Meetings and Events

For information on meetings affecting individual rail-trails, check this page.

Statewide News and Events

The Intermodal Rail-Trail - Marshall County [Glen Dale to Moundsville]
Source: WVDOT Doug Paisley, Coordinator

The Marshal County Intermodal Rail-Trail is another step closer to construction.

CSX has submitted an agreement for purchase to the Marshall County Commission. There were two parcels owned by the railroad which were inadvertently left out of the agreement. That is being rectified. Two parcels owned by Consol Coal and the City of Moundsville reverted to them in ownership following the rail abandonment.

One private owner has been approached and has expressed his willingness to work with the Committee and the County Commission to lease that section of the old railbed.

The major problem before the Glen Dale Moundsville to Bikeway Committee will be the construction of the bridge on the existing stringers over Little Grave Creek.
See the photo showing the current condition of the structure.

We are hoping for a Spring start on construction.

Cranberry Tri-Rivers Rail-Tail [Webster County]
Source: Geary Weir - Webster County Development Authority

10.5 additional miles are planned.

The Webster County Chamber of Commerce is applying for a TEA 21 grant to purchase & develop a 10.5 mile trail (along the abandoned CSX rail line) from Cowen, WV to Bolair, WV. This trail will hopefully eventually link up with the Cranberry Tri Rivers Trail. A large portion of the proposed Cowen-Bolair trail runs through the Monongahela National Forest & alongside the Gauley River.

Oak Hill Rail-Trail [Fayette County]
Source: Beth Gardner - West Virginia Citizens' Conservation Corps

We are working on a trail project that includes an applications for a Recreational Trails Grant.

The grant for acquisition of rail corridor. The Norfolk Southern Railroad has stated in writing that they are a willing seller and have included an additional 2.5 miles of trail in their offer to sell since that portion of the corridor has now been abandoned as well.

This would make the trail 7.5 miles long. It would run through the heart of Oak Hill and connect many neighborhoods, the schools, the soccer field, and the little league fields. It would also run past the newly renovated train depot and enhance that project as well. This project is being sponsored by Oak Hill Moving Ahead.

The Muddlety Valley Hiking and Biking Trail [Nicholas County]
Source: Stan Adkins - City of Summersville

Nicholas County Hiking and Biking Trail is open this winter.

Within the last month the City of Summersville has stocked close to 1000 trout in the stream flowing next to the trail, which is Muddlety Creek. It is planned for this tail to eventually connect to the Cranberry Tri-Rivers Rail-Trail

Hawks Nest Rail-Trail [Fayette County]
Source: Geoffrey Skaggs - Town of Ansted

The Hawks Nest Rail trail is about ready to open to the world.

We have yet to deck the "upper trestle" but have fresh ties and lumber ready to go. The town's workers plan to start decking as weather permits. Lots of folks are walking the trail at this time. Some signage is up, but I don't want to encourage too much traffic till the upper trestle has handrails. The trail is 2.2 miles in length and runs from downtown Ansted to the New River. It terminates where the aerial tram from Hawks Nest Lodge departs their passengers.

Mon River / Caperton Rail-Trails / Deckers Creek Rail-Trails
[Monongalia, Preston and Marion Counties]
Source: Mike Breiding and MRTC

Construction has started on an additional 16 miles of trail on the Mon River Rail-Trail.

This new section of the Mon River Rail-Trail, once completed, will extend south to Prickett's Fort State Park in Marion County. The trail surface will be compacted limestone, similar to that used on the Deckers Creek Rail-Trail.
Projected completion date of this segment is April, 2003.

Slide covers trail and poses hazzards to users - again.

For the fourth time the same segment of the Mon River Rail-Trail was covered with boulders, trees, mud and other dibris making it messy, difficult and potentially hazzardous for trail users to negotiate this section when travelling south to Uffington. The slip started when an adjcent landowner developed property directly above the the trail which caused the road bed of State Route 73 to crack and shift as well causing tons of soil and other debris to be deposited on the trail. The slip is about 1/2 mile south of the Morgantown Utility Board water treatment plant. See the photos of this latest slip.

MRTC offers bounty for ATV users.

The MRTC has posted a $500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone using ATVs on the trail. The same stands true for anyone else vandalizing any portion of the trail system.

"We have recognized a lot of trail damage," said Ella Belling, MRTC executive director. "It's enough that we've had to bump up our efforts to put a stop to illegal ATV use."
Read the full story.

Landowner blockades Rail-Trail corridor.

A landowner adjacent to the section of Rail-Tail corridor near Round Bottom has blockaded the right-of-way in an effort to halt trail constuction on that section. During a phone interview, the landowner stated MRTC could produce no "deed of record" and therefore had no claim to the corridor on that section of the Mon River Rail-Trail.

Eclipse Trail: Westover's Entrance into Recreational Trail Development

Source: Gary Marlin

A grant for $20,905 was recently awarded to the City of Westover by Governor Wise and the Department of Highway to build a recreational, multi-use trail through that city.

The trail will run from Monongahela Avenue to West Park Avenue following what appears to be an old logging grade or road through a wooded area. From the Monongahela Ave trailhead, the trail will proceed southeast gently uphill beside a stream for approximately 750 feet. It will then switch back to the right going north for about 500 feet, then turn left and run approximately 800 feet west paralleling and with a view of the Monongahela River to the trailhead on West Park Avenue. The route is shown on the Tax Map as an undeveloped extension of Maryland Avenue and undeveloped Eclipse Avenue. Construction will involve clearing brush and downed trees, grading, timbering in places and surfacing with fine gravel as on the rails-to-trails. Entrance signs and benches are also planned.

This trail is part of a larger scope of recreational and alternate transportation trails for the Western part of Monongalia County. The vision involves a trail from the Westover Bridge along Tower Lane and Monongahela Avenue to Granville and perhaps along WV100 to connect to the bike/pedway being built from Star City to the Anchor Park. This will connect the Eclipse Trail to the Mon River-Deckers Creek Rail-Trails. From the West Park Avenue end of the trail, the vision is to later develop trails across Westover to City Hall and Westover Park. The Westover City Council voted unanimously to support the project and Mayor Kenney has been instrumental in moving it to reality.
See the photos showing future trailheads.

For further information or to get involved,contact Gary Marlin - 304-296-2665

Deckers Creek Rail-Trail pedestian bridge to Marilla Park open for use.

Source: Jeff Mikorski , Assistant City Manager - City of Morgantown

This 88 foot timber bridge was paid for with TEA-21 grant funds, local City of Morgantown funds and a $10,000 USDA Forest Service grant. The bridge was larger than expected. It had to be built above the flood plain elevation, and then had to conform to the ADA requirements on the slope of the ramps on each side. Magnum Mechanical Contractors, Inc. of PA was the bridge contractor. Supply problems brought the bridge in about 8 months past due on the contract, and approximately 15 months total.

See the bridge photos

Sturgisson Rest Stop adds more ammenites for Deckers Creek Rail-Trail users.

David Lewis and his wife "Sis" keep on improving the services, informatin and confort of trail users. The rest stop now includes a "Snack Shack", bike rack, shelter, pic-nic table, swing, chair and foot stool, historical photos and a map box that actually has maps in it. See the Rest Stop photos

Allegheny Higlands Rail- Trail [Tucker and Randolph Counties]
Source: Karen Carper - Highlands Trail Foundation

Two more short sections will go out to bid in Feb.

The section from Parsons to Bretz at the Mon Forest Nursery Bottom, and Nursery Bottom to Hendricks will go out to bid in Feb. Total mileage is about 4.5 mi. Construction is expected on both in spring/summer 2003.

The next section scheduled for design and construction is on the south from the existing trailhead at Highland Park to the Elkins depot. The DOH had a public workshop in August and comment period which ended Sept. 30, but they have not yet announced selection of a route for the .8 mi. section. I was told that comments were all in favor of a direct route down Railroad Ave., but I know that DOH engineers don't like that route.

That leaves the Blackwater Canyon and Thomas sections, which will be combined as one contract if DOH can get the ROW in the canyon. They want to buy property from Allegheny Wood and USFS, but can't construct the trail if AWP has motorized access from USFS because the federal funding is for a pedestrian use trail.

DOH has recently added mile markers to the finished trail from Highland Park to Parsons (21 miles). HTF has requested historic markers made of rail sections, but I have no info on when these may be added.

Highlands Trail Foundation is also working with trail enthusiasts in Maryland on an Allegheny Highlands Trail link which would join AHT/WV at Thomas to AHT/MD at Frostburg or Cumberland, hopefully including the historic Fairfax Stone.

West Fork River and McTrail Rail-Trails [Marion County]
Source: MCPARC Dan Talbott, Director.

MCPARC to start on two trailheads soon.

Two trail heads are close to construction in Marion County. In Hutchison on the West Fork Trail MCPARC has been working with the DOH to iron out drainage issues and will soon begin constuction on a parking area, signage, and related recreational fixtures.

On the south end of MCTRAIL in East Fairmont a trailhead will be built just off the Morgantown Avenue and Winfield Street intersection. The City of Fairmont Planning Dept. is working with MCPARC to arrange a parking area, new trail path and drainage pattern for the area.

Soon we hope that the "connecting link" (behind the Pricketts Fort Visitors Center) will be worked on to connect to the MRTC project along the Mon River Trail. The property was finally purchased to connect the two trails late in 2002. A small section of the MCTRAIL was worked on by a contractor to install a water line near the barn at Pricketts Fort State Park and some finish work on the surface will be completed soon. A free brochure of the Marion County Trail System is available by contacting MCPARC.

North Marion Rail-Trail [Marion County]
Source: Leisha Elliot - Manninton Main Street

The North Marion Rail- Trail recieves funding to develop Rail-Trail

Additional funding from the Federal Highway Administration was recieved during the Awards Ceremony on Friday, December 13, 2002. Mayor Orval Price and I traveled to Charleston to accept the presentation made by the Governor. We are currently awaiting an order to proceed to begin our trail using the money received from last year's funding. At this time we are only able to develop the portion of the trail that the city of Mannington leases from Consol. Before we can consider tying into the Wetzel County Trail we have to either obtain permission from Consol to use the rail bed or get a right-a-way from each individual owning property adjacent to the rail bed. Either way, we have our work cut out for us. Once we are able to go outside the city limits, we are interested in getting some help with the next phase of the trail development. There are a couple abandoned bridges and a tunnel we have to contend with. Like I said, we have our work cut out for us.

West Fork Rail-Trail [Pocahontas and Randolph Counties]
Source: Frank Proud

$8,000 Grant awarded for the MNF's 22-mile West Fork Trail

Glady, WV - Gov. Bob Wise awarded the WV RTC $8,000 TEA21 Recreational Trails Grant for the Monongahela National Forest's 22-mile West Fork Trail in Randolph and Pocahontas Counties. The majority of the grant will be used to define and construct trail-head parking in Glady which would also serve the near-by Allegheny Trail. Smaller trail access points will be identified for directional signs and parking. Notice to proceed is expected by spring, 2003.

North Bend State Park Rail-Trail [Harrison, Doddridge, Ritchie and Wood Counties]
Source: Robin Davis - Harrison Director, NBRT Foundation

Grant application to be filed and work crews being redied

The Doddridge County Commision has promised with an intent to apply for a $10,000 grant towards rail trail development. A work crew from the West Union Bank has formed and promised to volunteer to do some work on the trail.

Lost Creek Rail-Trail [Harrison County]
Source: Terry Schulte - Director, Harrrison County Planning Commisson

Grant awarded for upcoming trailhead work.

A $40, 000 along with a $10,000 match will establish a trailside facility on the City of Lost Creek park adjacent to the Rail-Trail. The new facility will include parking, bike racks, restroom facilities, public water and sewer, shelter , and signage.

Construction is expected to start in approximately 7-8 months. Project bids are to be opened on 1-28-03 for the trail rehabilitation project from the Lewis County line to the City of Clarksburg. Work will include trail rehabilitation, bridge decking and drainage.

Additional funding will be needed to complete the entire trail. To that end we will be submitting another application on 2-15-03 for additional trail rehabilitation.

Panhandle Rail-Trail [Washington county, PA]

A section in Washington county is in the construction planning stage. For more information visit the Panhandle Trail Association web site.

Sheepskin Rail-Trail [Fayette County, PA]
Source: Art Capella

A major project is in the design stage at this time.

The Sheepskin Rail-Trail connects to the Youghiogheny River Trail in Dunbar Township and traverses in a southwest direction through the center of downtown Uniontown (county seat) to the Borough of Point Marion. In Point Marion, the trail will connect to the Mon River Rail-Trail. The total mileage of the trail is 33.6. At the present time, we are designing segments one and two of the trail which will allow us to make the connection to the Youghiogheny River Trail in Dunbar Township and move toward the City of Uniontown.We are quite excited about the Sheepskin project.

Also, the Browns Run Trail is a spur off of the Sheepskin which begins at Shoaf (near Smithfield Borough) and moves in a direction toward the Monongahela River.

Great Allegheny Passage Rail-Trail [Pittsburgh to Cumberland]
Source: Anne Richardson Allegheny Trail Alliance

Articles from the ATA Newletter

• Sponsor a foot of Big Savage tunnel
• New Laurel Highlands signs guide trail users
• Maryland purchases vital segment
• City adds 2.1 miles to Southside trail
• Experimental mile markers placed

Read the ATA Newsletter