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A public
proposal of converting the railroad corridor into a recreational
trail started in the fall of 2001 when a local Laramie, Wyoming,
bicycling club proposed the conversion shortly after the
railroad ties and rails were removed. To gather support and to
inform the public, the local bike club, Laramie Bicycling
Network (BikeNet), held three public meetings. In the spring of
2002, two public meetings were held in Laramie, WY, and one in
Centennial, WY. The bike club also convinced the Albany County
Board of Commissioners to hold a Public Hearing leading up to
the approval of the Commissioners to apply for a grant to fund a
Feasibility Study of the proposal to make the railroad corridor
a Recreational Trail. The bike club also circulated surveys to
county residents to determine public interest and recommended
uses. Over 140 responses were received with 94% of the
respondents supporting a non-motorized recreational trail.
In the Fall of 2002, Albany County applied for and received a
$40,000 grant from the State to conduct a ‘Feasibility Study’ of
the proposal of converting the railroad corridor to a
recreational trail. The County hired a local contractor, Lord
Consulting, to conduct the study. The study included extensive
public involvement. During the fall and winter of 2002-2003, 6
Public Meetings and Open Houses were conducted, 3 in Centennial,
WY, and 3 in Laramie, WY. During these meetings, a survey was
also distributed asking what the public thought of the proposal
and possible uses. Over 96 responses were submitted. By the
spring of 2003, the Feasibility Study was completed and it
recommended the conversion of the railbed on National Forest
Lands to be converted to a non-motorized recreational trail.
The Laramie Ranger District of the Medicine Bow National Forest
began the NEPA process to analysis this public proposal in the
summer of 2003. Formal scoping was conducted and several
newspaper articles, as was as a legal notice, were published in
the local newspaper. In addition, 359 letters were sent out to
interested and potentially affected individuals, groups,
organizations, tribes and agencies. In early 2004, we mailed the
Environmental Assessment (EA) out for a 30-day comment period,
which included an article in the local newspaper. Finally, in
April, 2005, a final decision was issued supporting the proposal
and again a newspaper article was in the local paper explaining
the project and possible timelines for construction. The
District applied for and received a $326,000 grant from the
State (WDOT - Transportation Enhancement Act funding program) to
begin implementation of the project. The District also received
funding from several partners, including the bike club (BikeNet),
City of Cheyenne Board of Public Utilities, and the Wyoming
Institute for Disabilities (WIND).
The Medicine Bow National Forest was also in the process of
revising the Forest Plan. The Plan included the conversion of
the railroad corridor into a recreational trail. The planning
effort had several public meetings which discussed the Plan,
including this proposal. The Forest Plan was signed in late 2003
telling the public that it was a goal for the Forest to convert
the railroad corridor within the National Forest into a
non-motorized recreational trail.
Conversion of the railroad corridor into a recreational trail (ie.
rail trail) began in the summer of 2005. Several trailheads and
associated facilities (ie. fishing pier, boardwalk, toilets,
etc.) on National Forest lands have been completed. Improvement
work across the private parcels has been put on hold until the
legal status of the ROW’s has been determined. Late in 2005, the
District received an additional $200,000 State (TEA) grant to
continue work on the implementation of the project in 2006.
Completion is expected by the Fall of 2006.
By Clint Kyhl, Laramie District Ranger, Medicine
Bow National Forest
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