A big fan of the West Virginia rails to trails system, I jumped at the chance to attend this morning’s meeting concerning expansion of the system – specifically, the closing of gaps which would eventually create a continuous 238-mile plus Parkersburg to Pittsburgh “P2P” rail-trail.

 

Encompassing 22 miles or so, four of those gaps are within West Virginia and once they are closed, there will be 150-plus miles of trails stretching from Parkersburg to the Pennsylvania border.  Those gaps are in the areas of downtown Fairmont, Shinnston to Spelter, Clarksburg/Bridgeport and Parkersburg.

 

A room full of players – from city, county and state officials to DEP, CVB and tourism reps to volunteers who work with a number of coalitions deeply vested in the goal – gathered at Steptoe & Johnson’s White Oaks offices and pledged to make it all happen within the next decade.

 

The payoff will be huge from recreational, social and economic - even transportation standpoints. Enthusiasm was present at the meeting for which Kelly Pack of the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy served as emcee.

 

“We have a once-in-a lifetime opportunity for the region; a world-class rail trail – one of the longest in the country. By closing these few short gaps in West Virginia and Pennsylvania, we’re about to have the fourth-longest rail trail in the country – longer than the Great Allegheny Passage,” she said.

 

That 150-mile trail system, which connects with the 184.5-mile C&O Canal Towpath at Cumberland, Md., creating a 334.5-mile route between Pittsburgh and DC, is a good example of how the development of trail towns along the system can really capture the benefits.

 

But we can look even closer for such inspiration, Pack said. Last year, the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy “RTC” produced an economic development study on the Mon River Trail System comprised of a north trail, six miles along the Monongahela River from Star City to the Pennsylvania state line and a south trail, 17.7 miles of wooded river valley that stretches from Morgantown to Prickett’s Ford State Park in Marion County.

 

“We found that more than a quarter of a million trail users contribute $6 million annually to the Morgantown region,” Pack said. “When you consider that that trail system is used primarily by locals, we have a lot more to capture. We’re doing work to get people to visit our communities, to come stay overnight. Imagine what more impact we could have.”

 

Kent Spellman of RTC, also co-founder of the North Bend Rail Trail - 72 miles of trails throughout North Central/Western West Virginia - provided some interesting history about his end of the trail system. Back in the early ‘90s, when CSX stopped using a 61-mile portion of railway, a group formed to acquire that acreage and convert it from a huge liability – where there was dumping, partying and ATV abuse – into a huge asset. The North Bend Rail Trail Foundation was formed, including representatives from all four counties involved: Wood, Ritchie, Doddridge and Harrison.

 

There wasn’t immediate success acquiring the property, but after much persistence and perseverance, it happened. Over the years, countiess volunteers and professionals have worked countiess hours to make it all come to fruitiion. Bridges have been built, paths paved; even small monuments, parks and other places of interest have been established along the way. 

 

A few years ago, RTC changed its thinking a little, Spellman said, from concentrating on individual trails to thinking in terms of a trail system.

 

That perseverance that made early initiatives successful is the same kind of perseverance needed to close these gaps and finish the trail system.

 

The P2P, Spellman explained, is one of eight corridors making up a massive 1,500-mile system, which his only 52 percent complete.

 

“Of all eight corridors, we are the closest to being done,” he said.

 

Progress is coming. Just within the last 18-24 months, negotiations have taken place with CSX to acquire 11 parcels of land along P2P.

 

“These are all important small steps to closing these gaps,” he said.

 

Though the entire trail system provides peaceful, serene sights and miles of recreational fun, each section has its own charm and personality.

 

From the sight of ducks, geese and waterfalls to carvings on tree trunks and breathtaking rock formations to wooded river scenic views and the scampering of an occasional squirrel across the trail, it’s a joy and downright privilege to enjoy our beautiful state and region this way. I love the calmness, the history learned and conversation shared along the way. My good friend and I have biked Shinnston to Fairmont several times, the bridge at the end a wonderful place to soak up sun and rest before the return trip. We’ve also ridden Mon River, both north and south, and the much shorter, but equally beautiful, West Fork River Trail.

 

I’m personally excited about the plans for this trail system over the next few years.

 

Pack hopes the results of today’s gathering places initiative in full swing.

 

“The intention was to raise awareness about the possibility of creating this world-class trail destination in the state of West Virginia – one of the longest rail trails in the country – and we’re just a few gaps away from making that a possibility,” she said. “We’ve worked really hard with local partners as we’ve seen and appreciated here today, but it’s time to bring in all the other folks – from local elected officials to state delegates and senators to consulting firms and state agencies – we all need to work together to make that a reality.”

 

There are lots of ways to do that - from governing bodies enacting resolutions and entities stepping up to fundraise or match funds acquired by Department of Transportation and Recreational Trail Program to folks simply utilizing the system by hiking, biking or leisurely walking and forming groups to reap the benefits of the trails.

 

It is going to happen.

 

Also addressing the crowd today were Amy Wilson of Harrison County Economic Development Corp., Bob Steptoe of Steptoe & Johnson, Kevin Belanger of RTC and Ellen Rossi of EQT Foundation. 

Connect with RTC at railstotrails.org and @railstotrails on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.