Guyton’s Rails to Trails project has just about everything in place to begin construction except approval.

According to Councilman Jeff Lariscy, he is just waiting on approval from the Department of Transportation before the project can break ground.

The trail is projected to start at the caboose in front of City Hall and continue along the city owned median between Central Boulevard and West Central Boulevard. It will connect to the Pilgrim Trail, which is right past Guyton Elementary School.

It is slated to be a multi-purpose trail with benches and fountains.

Lariscy said that the project began before he joined the council. He admitted that he has struggled to understand where the city stands in the process.

The project is part of the Rails to Trails Conservancy, which is a non-profit group that works with communities to preserve unused rail corridors by transforming them into trails. There are over 1,400 open rail-trails in the country, providing over 13,000 miles of walkway.

Jennifer Kaleba, communications director at Rails to Trails, said the first thing to do in establishing a trail is to look into the ownership of the land.

Anyone, whether a city official or a resident, who is interested in establishing a trail will have to consult the owners of the land. The land may still be owned by the railroad company or the city or the state.
In some cases, the railroad may have abandoned the track, leaving it in the hands of the city or state. The conservancy maintains an updated database of abandonments filed by various railroad companies. They alert the communities when a track in their area has been abandoned.

“We send early notices to communities,” Kaleba said.

The next step is to involve those in the community to get their input on how the trail should be developed. Factors such as natural surface or pavement will have to be addressed.

“It’s very crucial for them to involve the community right from the start,” Kaleba said.

Locally, there are two trails in operation — the Savannah and Ogeechee Canal Trail and the McQueen’s Island Historic Trail.
Funding for the trails is available from the government at all levels, private partnerships, grants and other methods. Any organization can become a partner and help raise funds for the project.

Kaleba cited a trail in Arkansas as an example. The trail passed right by a hospital, and a group of cardiologists employed there raised money to help build it because it provides residents with an opportunity to exercise and improve their heart health.

“It’s helpful to think outside the box,” she said.

Besides promoting good health the trails, also enable residents to reach various destinations without resorting to driving.

The trails also preserve natural landscapes and help protect plant and animal species. The conservancy also notes the trails can highlight cultural and historical features of the community.

This is especially pertinent to Guyton because the trail would help bring special attention to the downtown historic area.

Lariscy said the site plans and funding are already in place. Once the state Department of Transportation approves the project, the trail can be developed.

For more information visit www.railstotrails.org or www.dot.state.ga.us.