Newton Trails

An unplanned detour to stroll along the railroad tracks through downtown Covington had me thinking of Robert Frost's poem Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening.  And, with apologies to the good poet, my mind soon wandered through a rhyme of my own imagination...

Discuss Newton County's rail-trail opportunity with friends and neighbors and someone will surely raise concerns about the economics of such a project.  I've written recently about the positive effect trails have on the local economy from increased tourism spending and stronger industry recruitment tools.  But, what about that federal deficit?  By accepting and spending federal grant money, aren't we contributing to runaway spending in Washington and heaping crippling debt onto our children and grandchildren?

Well, not exactly.

The two federal earmarks awarded to Newton County in 2008 and 2009 for the railroad corridor acquisition were provided under the Transportation, Community, & System Preservation (TCSP) program of the Federal Highway Adminstration (FHWA).  The other grants Newton County currently holds for construction of the Eastside and Turkey Creek/Yellow River trails were awarded under the Transportation Enhancements (TE) program of the FHWA.

Both programs reimburse states and local governments for certain transportation-related projects from the Highway Trust Fund (HTW), which is funded through users fees in the form of taxes on gasoline, diesel fuel, natural gas, LP, tires, truck & trailer purchases, and heavy vehicle licensing.

The term "Federal Highway Aid" is a misnomer, since the "aid" provided by the federal government is simply a redistribution of taxes collected from the states.  And, as in most such systems, the redistribution favors some states and punishes others.  The winners (debtor states) receive more federal aid than the taxes paid by that state's residents.  The losers (donor states) receive back in federal aid less dollars than what state residents contributed.

Since 1956, when the Federal Highway Trust was created, Georgia has been a donor state, receiving back only 84% of the money paid into the fund.  Meanwhile, New York has received a 113% return on taxes paid.  In 2009 alone, Georgians paid an excess of $206 million into the fund vs. the amount received back in federal grants.  (For a writeup describing the inequities of the current system, see this piece from the Georgia Public Policy Foundation.)

I could readily support a system that allows states to keep our highway taxes local and not have them redistributed by the federal government.  But, that is not the system in effect today.  Those who advocate "giving back" the railroad grants do not understand this money comes from the Federal Highway Trust and is allocated by law to the TCSP and TE programs.  If not used on a project in Newton County, it will be used on a project in another Georgia county, or even in another state.  And, why should Georgians pay to build a rail trail in New York state?  I guarantee you THAT won't bring tourism dollars to Newton County.

For more information on the Transportation Enhancements program, click here.  For more information about the Transportation, Community, and System Preservation program, click here.

We use the term "greenway" or "greenway trail" often on this site, but perhaps not everyone knows what a greenway is.  Webster's defines greenway as " a corridor of undeveloped land preserved for recreational use or environmental protection."  It also says first known use of the term was 1966, which surprised me.  The concept has been around longer than I thought.  And, yet, some still seem to have trouble catching on.

I've deliberately kept trails alive in the discussion around plans for the Norfolk Southern Railroad corridor because I am afraid politicians will look for any excuse to avoid criticism and try to skirt the trail discussion.  But, truth be told, the potential for that corridor is so much broader than a trail.  A greenway encompasses many uses that transcend trail-based activities like walking, biking, or jogging.

Many folks assume the rail corridor is what they see with their eyes:  the roughly eight feet taken up by the ties and rails.  But, check the survey maps for the railroad, and you find the corridor is actually 25, 50, or 100 feet wide in all but a few places.  And, being already densely lined in most places with trees and plants, the corridor is a ready-made greenway.

There are as many greenspace uses for the corridor as your mind can imagine.  For me, community gardens, picnic areas, playgrounds, dog parks, micro parks, water gardens, and fitness trails come to mind.  A greenway can and should encompass all of those ideas and more. And, aside for the ways in which the greenway can be used, there is an additional benefit realized by every citizen of Newton County -- whether they venture into the greenway or not.  By preserving the trees and plants along the linear parkway, we maintain an oasis of greenery to cool and cleanse our air.  And, we can all use more of that.

In a recent Covington News editorial, I criticized Newton County officials for failing to act on plans they adopted over the years affecting the health and well being  of county residents.  In particular, I referenced the County Recreation Plan for 2005-2011, which documented broad public demand for passive recreation facilities such as walking and biking trails.  And, I wondered how our elected leaders can continue to ignore those needs while watching our county fall behind the rest of the state and the nation on key health indicators.

Reading the latest Recreation Plan update, the depths of my wonderment only grow.

The Recreation Commission recently updated the previous plan with an extension through 2012..  As part of the update, the commission conducted a web-based survey of Newton County residents in February and March, 2010, which showed:

• Walking/jogging was the most popular activity reported in the survey; bicycling was #3.
• Requested park improvements included more greenspace, expanded walking and hiking trails, more passive recreation facilities, and consideration of dog parks.
• Suggested program improvements included more programming for adult participants.
• The top priority for new facilities was more walking trails; the #3 request was for more bikeways.

The updated plan also reflects a disturbing trend with our recreation facilities inventory when measured by common benchmarks.  Standards for healthy communities established by the National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA) recommend between 6.25 and 10.5 acres of recreation space per 1,000 residents.  In 2004, Newton County had 4.34 acres per 1,000 residents; the 2005-2011 plan established a goal to reach a ratio of 6.5 acres by the end of the plan period.  However, by the end of 2010, Newton County's actual figure had fallen to 3.66 acres, as we failed to keep pace with the explosive population growth.

In the 2012 Plan Extension, the Recreation Commission reported a current shortage of 281 acres of recreation space against the plan target and a projected deficit of 330 acres by 2012.

We have too many people and not enough places for them to exercise or relieve stress.  The people are pleading for places to walk, jog, bike, and enjoy passive recreation.  But, our County Commission sits inexplicably silent and motionless on the Norfolk Southern Railway opportunity.  That corridor features 167 acres of prime recreation land, and we have federal grants Newton County requested explicitly to build a facility for walking and biking.

What is wrong with this picture???

Even the staunchest supporters for developing a rail trail in Newton County think of such an endeavor as a generational undertaking...  as an effort  whose fruit may be born not in this lifetime.  While the vision is fresh and real, the journey from here to there -- the jump from now to then -- seems so abstract and so far.  Perhaps, a journey back in time only 20 years can provide a different perspective.

On a warm, sunny day In 1991, three buddies chatting on a bike ride conceived the notion that Atlanta needed better places to walk and bike.  The city had only recently been selected to host the 1996 Summer Olympics, and Ed McBrayer, Pete Pellegrini, and Maxine Rock believed they could build a system of greenway trails before the world arrived in the Summer of '96.  On that day, the PATH Foundation was born.

This year, PATH turns 20.  And, in two short decades, the group has built over 160 miles of greenway trails around metro Atlanta and the state of Georgia.  PATH's most ambitious and best loved undertaking is the Silver Comet Trail in Cobb, Polk, and Paulding counties.  The group's partnership with those three counties and the state was created in the July of 1998.  And, by that Fall, the first section of trail was already open for use.  By 2003, 38 miles of trail had been built.  And, in 2008, the final section was completed to link 61 miles of trail in Georgia to 33 more on the Chief Ladiga Trail in Alabama.  All that the Silver Comet Trail encompasses today was build in one decade.

From ambitious beginnings, a small group of dreamers and doers has given the people of north Georgia more than 160 linear miles of passive recreation area across urban, suburban, and rural landscapes.  And, another 100 miles of trail are on the drawing board and under construction.  PATH trails are used by tens of millions annually, providing healthy recreation for residents and attracting tourism dollars that have revitalized communities.  For an up-close view of thee incredible facilities, check out the slide show on the PATH website.

Maybe we have to start small.  But, won't get anywhere if we think small.  As the saying goes:  "Those who say it can't be done should get out of the way of those who are doing it."  And, PATH has shown us what can be done.

Newton County Trail Path Foundation, Inc was incorporated in 1997 by a group of people advocating an extensive multi-use trail network through Newton County long before I ever considered this a cause I could champion.   Yet, there are those who know I am a cyclist and assume I must be interested in trails and greenways for my own personal use.  The truth is, however, I was not a trail proponent until about two years ago.

As a road cyclist, I had little use for off-road biking and walking trails.  I had everything I needed on the fantastic country roads stretching across Newton and surrounding Jasper, Morgan, and Walton Counties. This rural landscape is a bicycle rider's dream.  That all started to change, though, in the Fall of 2008.  That October, I and five fellow cyclists set out on a ride on the Silver Comet and Chief Ladiga Trails, from Mableton to Anniston and back. -- 184 miles, all on trails paved over converted railroad lines..

I'd ridden the Silver Comet twice before, but only on short segments within Cobb County.  This was different.  Leaving the congestion of Cobb County behind, we made our way through towns like Hiram, Rockmart, Cedartown, Piedmont, and Jacksonville.  The scenery was incredible.  The mix of users along the trail changed as we went along.  From joggers, triathletes, and dog walkers in Cobb, we soon made our way out into the hinterlands.  Before long, we were seeing Boy Scout Troops on a weekend hike or bike, couples making a vacation journey, and locals out for a Saturday/Sunday ride.  All along the way, we met Georgians in Alabama and folks from Alabama in Georgia.

In Piedmont, AL, we stumble into a Fall street festival, complete with bands, face painting, bake sales, and the like.  And there we were, joining right in.  We ate a full lunch at Frankie's in Rockmart, and we hit plenty of convenience stores and fast food stops in town after town, fueling us along our journey.  Including our overnight stay in Anniston, I figured we spent over $600 in total , or $100 a night per person.

Already a member of the Covington/Newton County Tourism Advisory Committee at the Chamber of Commerce, I was anxious to tell our story.  To me, the opportunity was clear.  In the months after that journey, I began researching and found community after community where trails and greenways had directly translated into tourism spending, profits for local merchants, and increased revenues for local governments.  I even found communities that had landed major new employers by recruiting industries that values walking and biking trails as an amenity to retain employees.

I've been an advocate every since -- solely because of the much needed economic impact.  Since that time, as I encourage more and more people of all ages to bicycle, I'm seeing the increased need to provide safe places to bike and walk in Newton County.   But, the beauty is we can build these places for our citizens, and generate economic prosperity for local businesses at the same time.  It's a win-win.