I’ve been talking about the MoPac gap from Wabash to South Bend lately, but the other gaps that exist; Lincoln to Valparaiso, then Brainerd to Norfolk, are also important links to get from Lincoln to the Cowboy Trailhead in Norfolk. The Oak Creek trail already links Valparaiso to Brainerd. On the way to the Cowboy we are stymied by the following:
When I was chatting with the Rails to Trails Conservancy representative at RAGBRAI last week, he said that they are in conversation with Burlington Northern about putting a trail next to the active rail line, or a “rail-with-trail.” He didn’t mention the Union Pacific Line from Lincoln to Valparaiso, but I hope that they are in negotiations, too.
The Burlington Northern has already given permission to use the rail-line easement to build the part of the trail that passes through David City. The Columbus Telegram recently wrote about those plans here.
LPSNRD has already approved a letter of support for the rail-with-trail opportunity between David City and Columbus.
As the easements are obtained the next challenge will be to secure the funding,