Greenbrier River Trail Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

W.Va. Rail Trails Network Getting Multi-Million Dollar Upgrade

Nearly 700 miles of new or enhanced rail trails are part of a nearly $19 million outdoor recreation infrastructure project.

Gov. Jim Justice said, in a press release, that these grants will help towns, cities and counties build and improve sidewalks, lighting, walking paths, rail trails and more.

“Investing in our cities, towns, parks, and trails is truly one of the best ways to attract tourists and improve the daily lives of our residents,” Justice said. “This program allocates millions of dollars to make some of the most cherished places in West Virginia easier to access, which will also increase visitation throughout the state.”

The overall program combines local, federal and state funds, Justice said. Projects are being funded in all nine West Virginia travel regions and 34 counties.

Among those project plans, more than $764,000 will go to replace the decking on about 37 Greenbrier River Trail bridges.

Greenbrier County Commission President Tammy Tincher said maintaining the popular 78-mile trail enhances tourism revenues and employment in Lewisburg and throughout the county.

“It definitely has allowed opportunities for small business growth,” Tincher said. “It’s a great opportunity to be able to reutilize our geography and continue to allow growth and tourism to flourish.”

Transportation Alternatives Projects Include:

(Projects with total funding, including Federal funding and sponsor match):

Barbour County
The City of Philippi has secured $75,000 for new and replacement sidewalks along both sides of Main Street.

Berkeley County
The City of Martinsburg has been awarded $400,000 for Martinsburg Frog Hollow Rail-Trail Route 9 Overpass Bridge Remediation, which will upgrade the 103 feet bridge span to protect the structure and enhance the safety of the bridge for users, including the abutments and railings.

Braxton County
Braxton County Commission has received $100,000 for the Gassaway Trail-to-Town Connector. The funding will be utilized for sidewalks connecting the Elk River Trail on Elk Road and the Gassaway Depot to 5th Street.

Doddridge County
Doddridge County Commission has secured $125,000 for the Doddridge County Park Pedestrian Bridge, spanning the Meathouse Fork and connecting to the EQT Creekside Education Trail and the North Bend Rail Trail.

Grant County
Grant County Commission has been awarded $162,500 for Petersburg River Park Hike and Bike Trail Continuation—Phase II, which will construct a trail on the Town of Petersburg’s levee system.

Greenbrier County
Greenbrier River Trail Foundation, Inc. has received $764,941.25 for Greenbrier River Trail Bridge Decking—Supplemental Phase to replace the decking on approximately 37 Greenbrier River Trail bridges.

Hampshire County
The Town of Capon Bridge secured $50,000 for new and replacement sidewalks throughout the Town of Capon Bridge and connecting to Main Street.

Harrison County
The City of Clarksburg has been awarded $100,000 for Glen Elk Streetscape and Green Infrastructure—Phase I, which will fund new and replacement sidewalks throughout the Glen Elk area of the City.

Jefferson County
The City of Charles Town has received $382,217.50 for the Charles Town Liberty Street Sidewalk upgrade on Liberty Street from George Street to Samuel Street.

Jefferson County Historic Landmarks Commission has been awarded $66,000 for Duffield’s Depot Rehabilitation. The funding for the rehabilitation of Duffield’s Depot includes:

Paint analysis.
Repairing/replastering the interior walls.
Trimming carpentry.
Painting the interior and exterior trim.
Installing a handicapped-accessible ramp.

Kanawha County
The City of Charleston has secured $150,000 for Smith Street and Leon Sullivan Way for new and replacement sidewalks and new street lighting from Morris Street to Leon Sullivan Way along Smith Street.

The town of Marmet has received $650,000 for Marmet Lens Creek Road Pedestrian Safety Improvements, including new and replacement sidewalks along West Virginia Route 61.

Monongalia County
Monongahela River Trails Conservancy has been awarded $300,000 for Deckers Creek Rail Trail Restoration. The funding will be used to restore the drainage and surface of approximately five miles of the Trail.

The City of Morgantown has secured $945,000 for the Morgantown Municipal Airport Streetscape Project. The funding will be used to build a new sidewalk and add pedestrian lighting along Hart Field Road, from the Mileground to the terminal.

The City of Westover has received $125,000 for Westover Fairmont Road Sidewalks, which will fund new sidewalks on the north side of Fairmont Road (Route 19) from Dupont Road to Dent’s Run Road.

Morgan County
The Town of Bath has been awarded $70,000 for Bath/Berkeley Springs Streetscape—Phase IV for new and replacement sidewalks on Congress Street, North Washington Street, Union Street, Fairfax Street, and Mercer Street.

The town of Paw Paw has secured $62,500 for the Paw Paw Sidewalk Improvement Project, which will install new and replacement sidewalks along Winchester Street and Moser Avenue for approximately 0.47 miles south from Town Hall to the intersection of Winchester Street and Moser Avenue and west to the library.

Nicholas County
The City of Summersville has received $675,000 for Summersville Webster Road Sidewalk Construction Improvements—Phase II, which will be for new sidewalks on the west side of Webster Road from Gladwell Drive to just past the United Bank building at the corner of West Webster Road and Route 41.

Ohio County
The City of Wheeling has been awarded $1,700,000 for Wheeling Robrecht Riverfront Park Pedestrian Improvements, which will construct pedestrian/bicycle walkways and trails in the Robrecht Riverfront Park area of Wheeling Creek and the Ohio River.

Pocahontas County
USDA Forest Service has secured $1,250,000 to reconstruct Cranberry Glades Boardwalk.

The town of Marlinton has received $100,000.00 for new and replacement sidewalks in the central business district and residential area.

Putnam County
The town of Eleanor has been awarded $350,000 for Eleanor Park Sidewalk—Phase I. The funding will be used to build new sidewalks from the Eleanor Park entrance through the woods to the existing footbridge.

The town of Poca has secured $460,000 for the Poca Laurel Avenue Sidewalk Extension—Phase II, which will add a new sidewalk and complete the pedestrian connection between Route 63 and the Subdivision.

The City of Winfield has received $350,000 for the Winfield Sidewalk System—Phase I, which will include a sidewalk on the east side of Route 817 (Winfield Road) from Hawthorn Drive to Waterside Drive.

Randolph County
Randolph County Commission has been awarded $50,000 for Randolph County Courthouse ADA Compliant Entrance and Sidewalks. The funding will be utilized for the reconstruction of the main entrance sidewalk and stairs of the courthouse to bring them into ADA compliance and for a new sidewalk connection to make a continuous walking path around the courthouse complex.

Summers County
The city of Hinton has been awarded $710,803.75 for new and replacement sidewalks along Pleasant Street.

Tucker County
The Town of Davis has secured $100,000 to be used for approximately 3,000 feet of new and replacement sidewalks along Main Street.

Upshur County
The City of Buckhannon has received $75,000 for the Buckhannon Morton Avenue & North Locust Street Sidewalk & Lighting Project. The funding will be used to install new sidewalks and lighting along North Locust Street and Morton Avenue.

Webster County
The town of Cowen has been awarded $90,000 for new and replacement sidewalks along Erbacon Road and Webster Road.

Wetzel County
The Town of Hundred has secured $100,000 for Hundred Sidewalk—Phase III. The funding will be utilized for new and replacement sidewalks along the right side of US Route 69/Pennsylvania Avenue and Route 250 North to Hamilton Street.

Wood County
The City of Parkersburg has received $850,000 for Parkersburg St. Mary’s Avenue—Phase I for new and replacement sidewalks along St. Mary’s Avenue.

Federal and State-Funded Recreational Trails Program Projects:

(Projects with total funding, including Federal funding, State funding, and sponsor match):

Berkeley County
The City of Martinsburg has been awarded $750,000 for Martinsburg Creekside Trail. The funding will be used to construct a connector trail of approximately 0.6 miles that will connect downtown Martinsburg (Queen Street) to Oatesdale Park and Frog Hollow Trail.

Cabell County
Greater Huntington Parks and Recreation District has secured $100,000 for Memorial Park Pathway GHPRD. The funding will be used to repair approximately 7,500 linear feet of path in multiple areas along the Memorial Park Pathway, including pavement and edge boards.

Fayette County
West Virginia DNR Babcock State Park has received $350,000 for extended repair of the damaged portion of the Narrow Gauge Trail in Babcock State Park.

The City of Montgomery has been awarded $60,000 to redevelop and repair 1.5 miles of the Montgomery Tech Trails, which were formerly owned by West Virginia Tech Trails.

Greenbrier County
Greenbrier River Trail Foundation has secured $1,250,000 to construct bridge decking replacement on 37 Greenbrier River Rail Trail bridges.

Hardy County
The Hardy County Commission has received $300,000 for the construction of approximately 2.8 miles of the single-track Jay Moglia Beginner Trail in Lost River State Park.

Harrison County
The City of Clarksburg has been awarded $300,000 for Clarksburg Hub Urban Rail-Trail Connection—Phase I to construct trail segments to close a rail-trail gap within the City.

The City of Clarksburg has secured $284,970 for the Lowndes Park Trail System and Bike Park. The funding will be used to construct nine trails totaling approximately 4.5 miles, including a jump trail, a pump track, and two trailheads in Lowndes Hill.

Kanawha County
West Virginia DNR Kanawha State Forest has received $100,000 for Davis Creek Trail—Phase I, which will involve long-term rehabilitation and future extension of the Trail and bridges.

The Mary Ingles Trail Blazer Chapter of the WV Scenic Trails Association has been awarded $265,540 for Marmet Locks: Mary Ingles Memorial Trail. The funding constructs approximately 3,700 linear feet of pedestrian primitive trail around Mt. Holly Lawn on the Marmet Locks and Dam.

Lewis County
The Lewis County Commission has secured $152,731 for the Lewis County Park Trail Extension, which will add approximately 1,000 feet of new trails and upgrade the current 2,000 feet of walking paths at Lewis County Park.

Lincoln County
The National Coal Heritage Area Authority has received $250,000 for Guyandotte Water Trail Access to construct a river access point and boat launch along the Guyandotte River near Ranger.

Logan County
Hatfield McCoy Regional Recreation Authority has been awarded $125,000.00 for the Bearwallow Trail System. Hatfield McCoy will perform all maintenance functions on the existing 125 miles of the Bearwallow Trail System.

Rural Health Access Corporation, dba Coalfield Health Center, has secured $103,000 for Chapmanville Community Greenspace. The construction of a Logan County Greenspace will provide residents with a path and nature walk that can be used for walking, jogging, and bicycles to increase physical activity.

Hatfield McCoy Regional Recreation Authority has received $125,000 for Logan County Trail System Maintenance. Hatfield McCoy will perform all maintenance functions on 50 to 75 miles of the Logan County Trail System.

Mercer County
Mercer County Commission has been awarded $187,500 for the Bluestone River Trail, which will provide 15 miles of hiking trails along Camp Creek from Camp Creek State Park to the Bluestone National Scenic River, along the Bluestone National Scenic River to Pipestem Resort State Park, and a separate branch extending along Brush Creek to the community of Gardner.

Mingo County
Hatfield McCoy Regional Recreation Authority has secured $125,000 for the Buffalo Mountain Trail System. Hatfield McCoy will perform all maintenance functions on the system’s 100 miles of Existing Trail.

Hatfield McCoy Regional Recreation Authority has received $125,000 for Devil Anse Trail System Maintenance. Hatfield McCoy will perform all maintenance functions on 56 miles of the Devil Anse Trail System.

Friends of the Tug Fork River has been awarded $53,000 for Tug Fork River Water Trail Boat Ramps. The funding will be utilized for a boat ramp and related amenities along the 60-mile-long Bloody Mingo Tug Fork River Water Trail, which will allow access to the river for both motorized and non-motorized watercraft.

Monongalia County
Sally Taylor, West Virginia Botanic Garden, Inc., has secured $50,000 for trail improvements and rehab of approximately three-quarters of a mile of the Garden’s main trail, the Reservoir Loop Trail (RLT), which encircles the central features of the Garden.

West Virginia University Research Corporation has received $375,000 for WVU’s West Run Trails Enhancement Project. The funding will be used to develop over 10 miles of new shared-use and single-use trails and upgrade 10 miles of existing trails and forest roads to modern standards for natural surface trail sustainability.

Morgan County
West Virginia DNR has been awarded $200,000 for Cacapon Resort State Park Trails. The funding will be utilized for the Appalachian Conservation Corps request to refurbish the old CCC trails.

Ohio County
Ohio Valley Trail Partners has secured $40,000 for the Wheeling Heritage Trail Connector, which will fill the gap between existing trails in the City of Wheeling by painting bike lanes and adding signage to guide cyclists to each trail.

Randolph County
Elkins Parks and Recreation Commission has received $485,000 for Glendale Park Skills Area, a recreation complex with athletic fields, an inclusive playground, hiking and mountain biking trails, and other amenities.

Monongahela National Forest Greenbrier RD has been awarded $375,000 for Mower Tract North—Phase IV, which will construct 8.2 miles of the new trail at Mower Tract, Cheat Mountain, and connect it with the existing loops (Phase 1-3) on the Monongahela National Forest Mower basin.

Raleigh County
Raleigh County Recreation Authority has secured $240,000 for Clear Fork Rail-Trail II, which will construct approximately 10 miles of trail, a new 185-foot pedestrian bridge, renovate the existing 245-foot McDowell Hollow Trestle, and demolish the Wolfpen Trestle.

Ritchie County
North Bend Rails-To-Trails Foundation, Inc., has received $100,000 for North Bend Rail Trail — Phase II, which includes surveying and ditching the Trail.

Summers County
Summers County Commission has been awarded $250,000 for The Great Eastern Trail and the Mary Ingles Trail, which will include 25 miles of Trail for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding in Summers County and access to New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, Bluestone National Scenic River, and Bluestone and Pipestem State Parks.

Tucker County
The Nature Conservancy has secured $300,000 for Brown Mountain to A-Frame Connector, which includes the construction of trails that provide access to additional trails at the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge.

The City of Parsons has received $110,000 for Corrick’s Ford Battlefield Dev Project — Phase II, which will install approximately 38 lights and fixtures along the previously constructed and paved Corrick’s Ford Trail within the City.

The West Virginia Transportation Alternatives and Recreational Trails Programs are administered by the WV Division of Highways and funded by the Federal Highway Administration. This year’s federal funding was supplemented with $5 million of state funds appropriated to the West Virginia Department of Tourism.

Advocates Push For Rail Trails To Connect State’s Tourism Economy

West Virginia has more than 500 miles of rail trails. The state is poised to get increased funding from recent federal legislation to build more.

Thousands of miles of railroad once snaked up the hollows and river valleys of West Virginia, carrying coal and passengers. Some of the state’s rail lines still serve that purpose.

Others serve a new one: building West Virginia’s tourism economy.

West Virginia has more than 500 miles of rail trails, and the state is poised to get increased funding from recent federal legislation to build more. State officials promote such trails as drivers of economic development in places that need it. But there are challenges getting the funding to cities and counties so they can make their rail trails connect to others.

West Virginia has nationally recognized rail trails. They include the North Bend Rail Trail, which covers 72 miles from Parkersburg to just west of Clarksburg.

And the Greenbrier River Trail, which runs 77 miles along its namesake waterway. Both are state parks, managed by the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources.

A third, the 72-mile Elk River Trail, is under construction. It will be the newest state park.

West Virginia’s rail trails are set to receive even more funding through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of last year — a 70 percent increase.

That could mean more communities could get the chance to become “trail towns,” hubs of trail-related tourism in West Virginia and surrounding states.

“So yeah, we’re really excited to potentially be a trail town in the future,” said Carly Jones, an assistant planner in Fairmont. Fairmont is working to acquire additional railroad property to expand its rail trail system.

Eventually, it could be a part of a 230-mile trail from Parkersburg all the way to Pittsburgh. Most of the trail will be in West Virginia. There’s only about a 20-mile gap left to make it a reality.

Kelly Pack, director of trail development for the Rails to Trails Conservancy, a national advocacy organization, said the influx of federal funds will help close those gaps.

“These are the communities that are really well positioned to utilize this once in a generation infusion of federal dollars through the bipartisan infrastructure law,” Pack said.

But there are challenges unlocking those federal dollars. Unlike other states, West Virginia does not have dedicated funding for the acquisition, development and maintenance of rail trails.

The West Virginia Division of Highways administers the federal funding. Kent Spellman, a rail trail consultant and founder of the North Bend Rail Trail, calls the process “cumbersome” and “dysfunctional.”

“We need to work at the policy level to clean up those programs so that they’re more accessible to communities,” he said.

Spellman said some projects have been in limbo for as long as several years from the time of the award to the notice to proceed.

“That’s a ridiculous amount of time for a grant to just be sitting on the shelf not being used,” he said. “So the increase in funding is important. But even more important, is the state deciding that they want to use that efficiently and effectively.”

A new group, called WV TRAIL — which stands for Trail and Recreation Advocacy and Information Link — aims to change that.

The group was formed in 2020 and held a virtual conference last year that included mayors and Tourism Secretary Chelsea Ruby. This year’s conference will be in person next week at the Glade Springs Resort in Beckley.

“It’s about building a network of trail advocates, users and managers, and making that network very apparent to decision makers in West Virginia,” Spellman said.

The bipartisan infrastructure law, which President Joe Biden signed last November, means West Virginia will get $11 million a year for transportation alternatives, which are non-motorized modes such as hiking and biking trails. That’s a big increase from the current $6 million, Pack said.

“That means a lot, especially for the types of projects that we’re talking about,” she said.

The new funding can help West Virginia close those remaining gaps in its rail-trail system. So can other programs, such as the Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization Program.

A $1.5 million AMLER grant, from the federal Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation and Enforcement, will enable the state to purchase 23 miles of abandoned Baltimore & Ohio Railroad right-of-way in Clay County. It will close a big gap in the winding Elk River Trail.

House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, R-Clay, Ruby and Gov. Jim Justice kicked off the trail’s construction in 2019.

“This project is a transformational opportunity for every community through which this trail will pass,” Hanshaw said then.

Progress has moved relatively fast. The trail is now open from Hartland to Gassaway, in addition to a short section in Clendenin. Another 18 miles of trail will be built along Buffalo Creek. Trail advocates hope it can one day extend all the way into Charleston.

State officials consider such projects vital to the economic future of communities hurt by the loss of coal jobs and disasters, such as the catastrophic flood of 2016.

Other federal programs are helping support rail-trail development in West Virginia.

A $1.1 million grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission helped create the Mountaineer Trail Network Recreation Authority. It’s a version of the successful Hatfield-McCoy Trail system in southern West Virginia, without the ATVs.

Sixteen counties are part of the network, and it projects an increase of one million visitors to the region in 10 years, and with them, hundreds of jobs.

Spellman said the authority recently hired an executive director.

“So it also will be connecting communities with funding opportunities for the development of amenities, business development opportunities,” he said, “because trails without amenities are not going to be a good experience for trail users.”

Like other tourism infrastructure, rail trails need good signage, parking and restrooms.

They also need to connect to other communities or recreational assets, Spellman said.

“A trail to nowhere from nowhere is not of great value,” he said, “but a trail that connects a community to another community, or that connects through that community, to the businesses that are in that community, or connects that rail trail to the mountain bike trail, or the water trail, or the equestrian trail.”

Spellman said West Virginia’s rail trails could be promoted as part of a package with other recreational opportunities and amenities.

“And we just have to keep up the momentum and keep providing communities, counties, and trail groups with the resources they need to be successful,” he said.

Year After Flood, Entire Greenbrier River Trail Reopens

A year after flooding severely damaged the Greenbrier River Trail in West Virginia, all 78 miles of it has reopened.

The Charleston Gazette-Mail reports the last remaining obstacle was removing debris that blocked an 11-mile section in Greenbrier County. Sam England, chief of the Parks and Recreation Section of the Division of Natural Resources said “the Godzilla of landslides” buried the section under a 600-foot-high, 300-foot-long pile of trees, brush, rock and mud.

With the debris removed and the hillside stabilized, the trail now rises about 18 feet above its original grade and users get a panoramic look at the Greenbrier River.

The trail passes through parts of Watoga and Cass Scenic Railroad state parks, Seneca and Calvin Price state forests, and the Monongahela National Forest.