There are still a lot of Rails to Trails opportunities in the DC area and I've mentioned some of them before, but the area shouldn't rule out Rails with Trails where needed. At least one is being built in the area, the Met Branch Trail. And others are being looked at. One of the biggest arguments the railroads give for not allowing trails along side their right-of-way is safety. But a recent analysis shows that not only are Rails with Trails safe, they're safer than rails without trails.
Common wisdom in the rail industry has been that anytime a person enters a rail corridor the risk of a fatality increases. It's obvious to experienced railroad employees that adding a trail and inviting public access should increase the fatalities.
[But] whenever people trespass in rail corridors, the walking is generally awful but usually easiest on the rails or rail ties. So kids walk on the rail ties or rails. College students leaving a pub may choose to walk an unlit rail corridor to return to their dorm. Hunters seeking game walk the rails. But, if a well-engineered trail existed beside the tracks, most would apparently choose the easier path.
...adding trails to rail corridors has, by experience, reduced rail trespass fatalities by more than 90%.
More study is needed, but this is good news and a good argument against the safety issue. I think there are several good opportunities for Rail with Trails in the area. Including
1. Pushing the Met Branch Trail up to Rockville
2. A trail along the North Side of New York Avenue from the Met Branch to the Anacostia Trail system (part of which is proposed).
3. From the abandoned rail bridge over New York Avenue to the Northwest Branch along the Camden line.
4. From 12th Street SW to the Virginia Avenue Tunnel in SE.
5. In spots along the Penn Line.
Comments