Rails to Trails proposal in Oriskany has opposition
Rails to Trails proposed route is along the old railbed of a train track that once traveled from New Castle to the Eagle Rock area in the early to mid 20th century in the Oriskany area of Botetourt County.
Five people told the Board of Supervisors they don’t want to see a rails-to-trails project come to fruition in northern Botetourt County when the Board of Supervisors met on April 25, 2023. The meeting was held at the Botetourt County Administration Center at Greenfield in Amsterdam.
The objections centered around the proposed Craig Valley Scenic Trail (or Craig Botetourt Scenic Trail), a project that would turn a state-owned railroad bed into a hiking and biking trail.
Portions of the old trail bed have been turned into a road, several of the speakers noted. Vickie Graham told the Supervisors that she did not know of any rails to trails project that involved vehicular traffic in conjunction with hikers, bikers, and horseback riders.
Marty Jenkins echoed a similar thought. “Just because a train once ran down state route 817 doesn’t mean it’s safe,” he told the Supervisors.
The rails-to-trails project has been an on again, off again project in northern Botetourt County for more than 30 years. The last attempt to bring the project to fruition occured around the turn of this century.
Virginia House of Delegate Terry Austin had funding for a rails-to-trails project in northern Botetourt and into Craig County placed in last year’s state budget.
The project is currently under study with the Virginia Department of Transportation. Spokesperson Jason Bond said in an email when reached after the Supervisor’s meeting that the state was “still studying and refining the cost estimate. A public meeting to share information is anticipated later this year.”Additionally, Bond wrote that a presentation made in April 2023 indicated that “Botetourt and Craig Counties stakeholder groups have been meeting monthly to help guide trail development.”
He noted that site visits and field reviews are ongoing and preliminary concepts for improvement requirements have been developed. Currently bridge inspections are underway.
He said the next steps involve complete aerial mapping by June 2023, with bridge inspections completed by July 2023.
–Anita Firebaugh, Special to the Botetourt Bee
Here is one of our earlier sstories that contains interesting info
There are far more than 5 people against the trail in Oriskany and surrounding areas along the trail for many reasons, but these are 5 of the residents on 817. There are more and they are watching this. Some are elderly. There are several serious safety concerns for Oriskany and on the whole mountain. Working farms would be greatly effected. The effect on rural life on the Oriskany community and on the mountain as a whole is taken too lightly by those who don’t live in the mountain. The trail would run straight through the center square (near the post office, which we need). Taxes going up for both counties should conern us all. Roanoke came up with this. They are equipped for tourism and have attractions. Restaurants in Botetourt and Craig counties are struggling for staff, not customers. It wouldn’t benefit Botetourt and Craig county much in revenue, but it would cost plenty in taxes. According to the Botetourt Bee in Feb. of 2022, the trail won’t go forward until both counties agree to match dollar for dollar. Just because it was last year, keep in mind that we’ve been warned. Single lane access roads and bridges with rock cliff and/or dropping cliff sides (most especially on 817), very long EMS and police response times, their lack of ability to deal with inevitable cliff scenarios, no cell or internet. Such proposed increased traffic magnfies everything for both residents and visitors. Rail bed in some areas is the relief road when the creek floods on 615 (locked gates are being considered), pollution to the creek and the trail, maintenance cost and execution, endangered species concerns, the crime factor (a sign protects no one. Not only “good people” are invited). Huge increase in traffic on narrow, winding shelf ridge roads. So many reasons. More than can be listed. Derail the Trail.
I agree that this “rail trail” is being misrepresented by those in government that are trying to push it through. The state road portion is unsafe for multiuse traffic. Motorized vehicles and bikes, horses, and hikers trying to share a narrow, curving road (“trail”???) with steep drop-offs is a bad accident waiting to happen. As a former EMS provider in the area, the long ambulance service times and lack of cell service in the area, as well as the difficult access, give me nightmares. In addition, long portions of the old rail bed are being used as emergency access by residents in the area, as the Oriskany community is cut off on both sides when Craig Creek floods and the rail bed road is the only way out and in. Numerous other trails and wilderness areas are available in Botetourt, Craig, and surrounding counties (many underused)–this misconceived trail is a bad idea, for many reasons.