Maryland trails threatened

I've gotten alerts that a couple of Maryland trails were threatened by other projects, but I'm happy to say that it appears one of those is no longer an issue.

 

The one that is no longer an issue involved construction of the SCMaglev tracks on the WB&A Trail. Maryland Transit Administration was considering constructing the SCMaglev train on the WB&A trail. 

The State of Maryland has granted the Baltimore Washington Railroad (BWRR) the franchise rights to the defunct WB&A railroad.  With this franchise, comes the power of eminent domain.  The project is moving through the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance process.  Once BWRR has approval through that process, there is no stopping them.

 

On the map of proposed routes from April, you can see where the train would interfere with the trail if the red or yellow routes were used.

 

But since then the number of routes have been trimmed and those two removed from consideration. Now it will either follow the Baltimore-Washington Parkway or the existing Amtrak/MARC Penn Line train tracks, perhaps it will even create an opportunity to create a rail with trail (at least along the above ground portions. If it needs to be raised up - as it appears it does, that might leave room for a trail/access road. That could create a trail from Ft. Meade to either New Carrolton or Greenbelt. Anyway, point is - the trail is no longer at threat and this may be an opportunity. 

 

The other trail at risk is the Western Maryland Rail Trail. 

Columbia Gas (TransCanada) wants to run fracked gas pipe under the WMRT west of Hancock. Please ask Maryland Park Service to deny the easement to dig up the trail. 

Now, if the trail is dug up and then rebuilt, that's may not mean the trail is "threatened" but I can see why people would oppose that.

Columbia Gas Transmission in March 2017 requested approval to build and operate a 3.4-mile natural gas connector line from an existing pipeline in Fulton County, Pa. through the Hancock area and into Morgan County. The project would include construction of an 8-inch greenfield pipeline with three main line valves and two tie-in assemblies.

Columbia has said it would run the line under the Western Maryland Rail Trail, C&O Canal National Historical Park and under the Potomac River to reach West Virginia.

The pipeline won't run under the trail - like a shared ROW - but rather pass beneath it for one point. Here again there may be an opportunity. Since this seems to be more of an inconvenience than a threat, perhaps the better strategy is to allow the pipeline under the trail but ask them to build a pipeline-with-trail for part of the 3.4 miles. Even if just from the WMRT to 144, it could get a good bit of use.

Of course, environmentalists are opposing the pipeline for other reasons which seem a lot more concerning.

But environmentalists say that brief stretch could jeopardize the water supply for about 6 million people, including most of the Washington-metropolitan area.

Comments

[twk]

Detailed maps can be found here:
http://bwmaglev.info/index.php/project-documents/maps.

They dropped the WB&A alignments due to the loud outcry from Bowie area residents. The Amtrak/MARC alignment still condemns many private properties in Old Bowie and along MD564. There is a strong effort to fight this.

If successful, that leaves alignments along 295. It is interesting that that is also where the MD Gov wants to add toll lanes. Also where Elon Musk wants to start his Hyperloop tunnel. Talk about congestion!

[Purple Eagle]

The proposed alignment along 295 is also facing opposition from residents in Greenbelt, since it could impact the city's Forest Preserve. In addition, for cyclists who like to ride the BARC roads, there is a potential impact from the maintenance yard. The maps show a potential maintenance area covering Springfield Rd near the intersection with Powder Mill. Would not be a big problem if the road is re-built around the yard, but I am not sure if it would be. (you can see it on this map too)