B&O Info Desk>News Updates>More Than a Recreational Trail

B & O Is More Than A Recreational Trail - By Linda Karn - (August 2006) Maybe the dust is finally coming off the plans to spearhead the development of the B & O Trail in Speedway. INDOT Director of Greenways and Bikeways Ray Irvin spoke to an estimated 30 people interested in developing the Speedway section of the 62-mile trail at a July 26 meeting. The trail starts in Marion County and extends to Montezuma, Indiana

According to Irvin, the B&O Trail, like other trails, could be a green infrastructure "pipe" fortune to Speedway's revitalization effort. The lecture, that promoted the 62-mile trail as an infrastructure tool, caught many people off guard who expected to hear about the recreational benefits of riding and walking the trail.

Developing a trail system requires a change in thinking. The trail systems have been slowed to develop based on recreational need alone. That is why INDOT is relying on the railroad's original corridor land use to develop its trail system. "The original use of the corridor was to provide economic development to a region by hauling resources for a community to grow. It is the same thing now," he said.

INDOT is in the process of forging partnerships to use trail beds as a host for infrastructure pipes that could carry fiber optic, ethanol gas, waste water, coal slurry, corn slurry, animal waste to various production places. Pipeline transportation would reduce hauling costs.

He noted this would be beneficial to the ethanol market that currently has a low rate of return on the BTU. It requires one BTU to generate 1.3 BTUs.

"The 21 century is about efficiencies," he said.

Irvin noted the state recently hosted a conference called Pipe Dreams with various businesses that might be interested in using the trail bed. This would save them cost of seeking easements from private landowners.

Irvin along with Indiana Health Department and Indiana Department of Natural Resources are developing a 10-year plan to connect every Hoosier to a trail within fifteen minutes. The health department is involved because of the governor's commitment to reduce the high obesity rate in Indiana. DNR is concerned about maintaining the environment.

INDOT plans to provide connecting trails to link small rural communities together. The goal is to provide these rural communities with internet connection and waste water treatment by using the trail bed for fiber optic connections and sanitary sewers. A small rural community could avoid the expense of building a package waste water treatment plant by transporting the sewage to a central plant.

Irvin reminded the crowd that water is reusable. It is critical to keep water streams clean because water continues to be reused as it flows downstream. The water, we are drinking now, has been used by others probably by people in Muncie and Anderson. White River supplies 70 percent of the water to Indianapolis, he noted.

He also explained that Indianapolis is projecting a water shortage by 2016. There have been discussions about building a water pipeline from Monroe Lake to Indianapolis. Opportunities like this could involve using the trail bed to transport the water.

Although the audience was fascinated with the overall concept, questions were raised from the audience about when the B & O would be developed. Jennifer Browning wanted to know if the trail would be developed in her lifetime or while she was still able to walk.

The proposed trail began in 1993 when CSX abandoned the railroad. According B & O Trail Association member Jeff Smallwood, the abandonment involved the courts to determine ownership. Marion County has been slow to progress because most of the corridor reverted back to the landowners instead of CSX.

According to Smallwood, BOTA has directed its efforts into Hendricks County because most of the corridor ownership reverted to the CSX making it easier for BOTA to work with one landowner.

Trail development in Marion County has not totally stalled. In April 2006, BOTA received access to clear out the corridor from Tansel Road to Raceway Road. The section has not been opened pending insurance coverage issues.

500 View Neighborhood Association President Tom Glass informed the group that his neighborhood association east of Speedway did not want to be by-passed in the development.

Irvin said the trail bed actually extends to White River State Park, so trail development would occur in his neighborhood. In the mean time Speedway residents still can utilize a trail way by using the city owned levy bordering Eagle Creek. "Why Wait? Start using it now! It is clear. It is an incredible place to walk," he said.

He encouraged trail supporters to involve the Hoosier Mountain Bike Association to use the levy. However, he cautioned the levy would not be suitable for touring bikes.