Post on 25-Dec-2015
Catonsville Rails-To-TrailsPresentation
EmanuelUnited Methodist Church
June 5, 2001 7:30 PM
Meeting Agenda
• Introduction & History
• Recreational Resources
• Study Presentation
• Open Discussion
Catonsville Rails-to-Trails
• Who
• What
• Where
• Why
History of CRTT
Current Recreational Resources
• Trolley Line #8
• Trolley Line #9
Purpose of Tonight's Presentation
Catonsville Short LineRail Road Trail
Feasibility Study&
Resource Guide
Contributing Authors• Douglas M. Adams
• R. Kent Adams
• Raymond Bahr
• James H. Bailey
• William Caine
• Mark A. Ferguson
• Jenny Gillis
• Laure A Bowman, Editor
• Daniel Hebert
• Julia M. Lukens
• James P. Reger, Ph.D.
• Ronald T. Santos
• Maureen Sweeny Smith
• Stephen L. Sprecher
• David Wasmumd
• John M. Wilson
The individual is a member of a community of interdependent parts. His instincts prompt him to compete for his place in the community, but his ethics prompt him to cooperate.
-Aldo Leopold
Vision
CRTT envisions the creation of the Catonsville Short Line Rail Road Trail as a multi-purpose recreational trail for the citizens of Catonsville.
Baltimore County Master Plan 2010
"Expand the greenways concept to include other suitable linear corridors such as urban walking routes, bikeways, former railroad trolley lines/rights-of-way, scenic byways, and water and coastal routes. Establish guidelines for attaining or creating such corridors, including the provision of bike lanes along key roadways that are being newly constructed or improved."
Process
• Developing of a Concept Plan(Feasibility Study and Resource Guide)
• Community Involvement
(Review and comment of Study)
• Trail Design (Based on comments)
• Construction
• Maintenance
Potential
Purpose of the Study
To provide a comprehensive analysis of the Catonsville Short Line Rail Road corridor to determine the potential for creating a multi-purpose recreational trail for individuals of all ages, needs and abilities.
Intention of the Study
To develop a plan for fostering individual,community and government support for the project.
Goals of the Study• Provide a comprehensive analysis of
the CSLRR corridor• Provide a mechanism for community
involvement and input in the trail development process
• Develop community support for the trail concept
• Provide a framework for initiating the design phase
Study Area
• Route of CSLRR
• Frederick Road to Loudon Park Cemetery
Source: Bureau of Census, 1990
Demographics of Study Area
• Total Population 59,415
• 54% Females - 46% Males
• 30-49 Age Group 30%
• Median Household Income $36,867
• Households 23,507
Cited Places• Baltimore National Cemetery• Bloomsbury Community Center• Catonsville Elementary School• Catonsville High School• Charlestown Retirement Community• Hillcrest Elementary School• Loudon Park Cemetery• Spring Grove State Hospital• The Children's Home• University of Maryland Baltimore County• Western School of Technology and
Environmental Science
Brief History of Short Line
• Established by Local Businessmen• 1884 Operations Begin - Passenger & Freight• 1898 Primarily Freight• 1945 Reorganized as Caton & Loudon Railway• 1958 Beltway Bridge Completed• 1972 Service Ends• 1973 Official Abandonment
Attributes & Benefits• Community Recreational Asset• Alternative Transportation• Educational Opportunities• Economic Benefits
– Tourism - Lurman Theater Concert Series, July 4th Parade Fireworks, Arts Festival
– Property Values
– Potential Impact of Business
Implementation Issues
• Community Support
• Multi-Level Government Interaction
Natural Resources
• Geology
• Topography
• Soils
• Vegetation
• Wetlands
Cultural Resources
• Historical
• Recreational
Issue Assessment
• Environmental– Contaminated Sites– Storm Water Management
• Land Ownership
• Engineering– I-695– Bloomsbury Avenue
Safety & Security
Crime Analysis
• Typically Associated with Trails– Destruction of Property– Trespassing– Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor
• Remained Steady or Declined (1992-99)• National Study
– 372 Trails - Generally Safer– Urban Trails Dramatic Decrease
Safety & Security - General
• Police presence along the trail• Guardrail along steep grades• Signage and pavement markings at road crossings• Traffic calming devices on the trail• Fencing around storm water management ponds• Trail hazard warning signs• Bicycle friendly storm water grates• Line of sight compatibility of multi-use activities
(bicycle vs. pedestrian)
Safety & Security - Specific• Bloomsbury Avenue• Baltimore Beltway• Steep Grade Embankment Near
Beltway• Storm Water Management Pond• Road Crossings
– Asylum Lane– Wade Avenue– Shady Nook Avenue– Paradise Avenue– Maiden Choice Lane– Beechfield Road
Access Points & Parking
• Catonsville ES
• Bloomsbury Community Center
• National Guard Armory
• Catonsville HS
• Western School of Technology & Environmental Science
Potential Linkages
• Trolley Line #8
• Trolley Line#9
• UMBC
• Catonsville HS
Trail Management
• Maintenance - Community Effort– Removal of Fallen Trees
– Pruning Trees & Shrubs
– Removing Litter
– Planting Flowers
• Stewardship– Garbage
– Graffiti
– Yard Debris
Trolley Line #8Clean-Up
Saturday, June 23, 2001
9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon
Meet at the Frederick Road Entrance
Conducted 9/12/1999
Trolley Line #9 Usage Study• 83% travel less than 4 miles to the trail• 41% walk to the trail• 45% drive to the trail• 90% either walk or run on the trail• 81% of the groups contain 2 or less people• 60% of the people use the trail on both weekdays
and weekends• 76% spend one hour or less on the trail• 85% of the people who use the trail are 26 years
of age or older• 98% support the creation of more trails
Other Notables in Study
• Historic Resource Descriptions
• History of Trolley System
• Detailed Trolley Line #9 Survey Results
• Detailed Crime Statistics for Trolley Line #9 Area
Notable Web Sites• Rail-To-Trails Conservancy• http://www.railtrails.org/• • Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Greenway• http://www.dnr.state.md.us/greenways/• • Baltimore County, Office of Planning, Master Plan 2010• http://www.co.ba.md.us/p.cfm/agencies/planning/mastplan.cfm• • Baltimore County, Police Department, Crime Statistics• http://www.co.ba.md.us/police/crime.htm• • Catonsville Short Line Rail Road Trail Feasibility Study and Resource
Guide - Document Posting• ftp://ftp.qssmeds.com/341/crtt_study/crtt_study.htm
Next Steps
Open Discussion