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