Project Title
Geospatial Analysis of the Central Georgia Rail Trail and Comparable Design Models
Faculty Mentor(s) Name(s)
Doug Oetter
Abstract
Rail trails are multi-use recreation pathways built over abandoned railroad lines. Their popularity across the U.S. has increased dramatically in the past 40 years, following a decline in rail service and an increasing desire for local recreation opportunities and green transportation alternatives. There are now over 25,400 miles of active rail trails across the country, with over 220 miles in the state of Georgia and another 140 miles of potential trails under development. In this analysis, ten completed rail trails in Georgia were examined to identify factors contributing to their creation and ongoing usage. These factors were compared to the proposed Central Georgia Rail-to-Trail (CGRT), which would span a 90-mile route from Macon to Warrenton, to assess the potential benefits of the trail’s construction. A community analysis of the socio-economic characteristics surrounding each of these trails was performed to identify the demographic and economic potential of the surrounding population. The analysis revealed that there are several Georgia rail trails that are highly comparable to the CGRT and should serve as suitable model projects for the development of the CGRT.
Geospatial Analysis of the Central Georgia Rail Trail and Comparable Design Models
Rail trails are multi-use recreation pathways built over abandoned railroad lines. Their popularity across the U.S. has increased dramatically in the past 40 years, following a decline in rail service and an increasing desire for local recreation opportunities and green transportation alternatives. There are now over 25,400 miles of active rail trails across the country, with over 220 miles in the state of Georgia and another 140 miles of potential trails under development. In this analysis, ten completed rail trails in Georgia were examined to identify factors contributing to their creation and ongoing usage. These factors were compared to the proposed Central Georgia Rail-to-Trail (CGRT), which would span a 90-mile route from Macon to Warrenton, to assess the potential benefits of the trail’s construction. A community analysis of the socio-economic characteristics surrounding each of these trails was performed to identify the demographic and economic potential of the surrounding population. The analysis revealed that there are several Georgia rail trails that are highly comparable to the CGRT and should serve as suitable model projects for the development of the CGRT.