Access to...

 A Railway converted to a Trailway - a brilliant recycling idea - potentially allowing community access to...  

• Heritage • Wildlife • Scenery • Quiet Solitude • Social Interaction • Alternative Transportation •

Despite the tale about about the "Little Engine that Could", trains - particularly steam locomotives - could not negotiate hills. Railbeds are always more or less flat. Rail trails, therefore can become THE BEST TRAILS for accessibility to all ages and abilities. This fact has been recognized by the International Greenway Movement and the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. Friends of the Rail Trail would like to see the area's rail trails be made more accessible to all ages and all abilities for safe enjoyment of public greenspace.

A critical aspect of ACCESS that FoRT champions is public awareness of HOW, WHEN and WHERE to access the HCRT and I,B&O rail trails. FoRT encourages this through the Sunday Rambles program and other events, this website, through membership communications, map development and public outreach in the local and wider rail trail community.