The difference between Olney's Gas and Power right of ways

This video about how a gas pipeline ROW allows for a trail, parks and community space, while PEPCO considers any use of their ROW trespassing makes a good point about how companies can be good neighbors.  

Of course, the gas line is buried and the power lines are not.  You probably wouldn't want to build a soccer field under a power line, but it's true that utility corridors like these can make great paths for trails. In fact since this video was made, Montgomery County has made plans to build a trail on the section of this power line ROW within Olney (from Bowie Mill Road to Cherry Valley Drive). They also plan to extend (and one would hope widen) the gas line trail to Muncaster Mill Road, which creates a smooth connection to the ICC Trail. 

They could also use the gas line ROW south of the ICC to connect the ICC Trail to the Rock Creek Park Trail, if they want a 2nd connection in that area. 

There are plenty of other opportunities for utility line trails in Virginia and Maryland too, perhaps we'll see more. In fact in 2017, Virginia created a Transmission Line Guideline that included secondary uses for transmission lines.

One of the potential benefits of transmission line routes is that clearings at safe distances adjacent to transmission facilities may be used for secondary purposes. Consistent with general safety factors the following should be considered as possible secondary uses of rights-of-way to the extent permitted by the property interests involved:

• Cultivation of Christmas trees, elderberry and huckleberry bushes, and other nursery stock
• Parks
• Golf courses
• Equestrian or bicycle paths
• Picnic areas
• Game refuges
• Hiking trail routes
• General agriculture
• Winter sports
• Orchards

Comments

[drumz]

In retrospect I don't know how legal it all was but where I grew up the powerlines were great ways to travel between 4-wheeler/atv trails.

[Brett Young]

There is a segment from the Pepco part of the trail to the C&O canal using the Gas line property. It hasn't been put on the table yet, but I'd like to see that built. Should be able to go from C&O canal to Mongtomery Mall

[David]

Is this PEPCO statement out of date? My understanding is that the Excelon merger meant that PEPCO adopted BG&E's policy, which is more receptive to trail use of the power line right of ways. In fact I thought some of this is included in the new Montgomery County Bicycling Master Plan.

[washcycle]

Yes, this is an old video. I made mention to the change in policy that was made as part of the merger.