Redlands Conservancy invites public to Redlands Rail Trail Project Workshop

Cities all over the country have done it, and Redlands aims to do it, too: convert abandoned rail beds into trails for walkers, runners, and bicyclists. With the presentation of a Community Outreach Workshop on Wednesday, September 22, at 6 p.m., the Redlands Conservancy, which is promoting the Redlands Rail Trail Project, hopes to move the process one step closer to reality.

"We want all the interested parties to come to this workshop,” explained Redlands Rail Trail Project chair Karen Singley in a recent telephone interview, “because we want everyone’s input to help us create a working vision of the project.” Singley added that a collaborative approach between the City of Redlands, San Bernardino County, and the Redlands Conservancy is working to put this project together.

According to Singley, the workshop, to be held in the Community Room at Franklin Elementary School, 850 E. Colton Avenue in Redlands, will serve two purposes: to provide information about the Redlands project and successful projects throughout the nation, and to invite the community’s input.

The workshop will be presented by Laura Cohen, Executive Director for the California Field Office of the Rails to Trails Conservancy, and Jeffrey Rosenhall, Project Coordinator with Healthy Transportation Network.

According to Singley, after a brief PowerPoint presentation about the concept of Rails to Trails, workshop participants will proceed to moderated break-out sessions where they will learn more about specific details of trail conversions, including the impact on schools, safety and road crossings, transportation alternatives, air quality, and property values.

"This will also be a time when people can express their concerns,” Singley said, “and provide their ideas for how to make this work. We’ll also have several detailed maps on hand so people can get a clear picture of the potential project.”

Singley said the main purpose of this workshop is to build a shared vision which will guide the next steps in the project.

"This is at least a two-year project,” she said. “It doesn’t happen overnight.”

Singley said the vision developed from the workshop will guide the design process which includes creating a map, conducting an Environmental Impact Assessment, and ultimately developing a shelf-ready product which will enable the Project committee to request money from agencies and individuals who want to contribute.

"We have such a terrific opportunity with this project,” Singley explained. “We have the rail corridor and Zanja waterway to connect up to existing transportation; we have the need—with the ever-increasing traffic and air pollution--; and we have the resources with a growing number of people who want to see this become a reality. This is not a new idea,” she added. “Several cities in Southern California already have moved in this direction, including Fontana, Rialto, and Claremont. We have a unique opportunity with the Redlands Rail Trail Project to tie the trail in with several aspects of our town’s history, including the role of rail in the citrus industry and the mission Zanja as an alternative trail route where the rail route may be impractical.”

Singley has already contacted all the participating agencies, including the City of Redlands Council members, SanBAG (which owns the property), San Bernardino County Supervisors, the Metropolitan Water District, and Cal Trans. She has also met with representatives from ESRI and the University of Redlands.

"With this workshop,” she said, “we want to address all the concerns that people may have, and to answer as many questions as possible.”

The workshop has been paid for by a grant from the Healthy Transportation Network. It is funded through Cal Trans and works with local officials statewide to promote walking, biking, and active community design. The workshop is free and open to the public. For more information, call the Redlands Conservancy at (909)792-1800.