As Catonsville Rails to Trails expands its offerings west of Interstate 695, work on the final large section of the Short Line Railroad Trail is expected to be completed by Memorial Day.
The 1,500-foot portion of trail will take walkers and bikers from Asylum Lane to Locust Street. It's a three-week project, according to Sheldon Smith, a Catonsville Rails to Trails board member who is the project manager for the Short Line Trail.
The completion of this section is a long time coming, Smith said. It was originally ready to be worked on in 2013, but permitting caused delays. A part of the section is on wetlands, which required approval and permits from the county, state and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
"It's such a relief," he said.
While the nonprofit received a $30,000 grant from the Maryland State Highway Administration to help pay for the $90,000 project, the nonprofit needs to raise about $10,000 more to fund it, Smith said.
"It's very little money when you think of the scheme of things," Smith said. "You get a big bang for your buck. You get an amenity for people."
Peter Van Allen, of Catonsville, uses the trail about once a week and is excited for its impending expansion. He tries to stay away from the main roads when he rides his bike because they have become backed up with traffic.
"The streets are OK, but it's so much more pleasant and safe to be on a dedicated pathway," he said. "When we have the trail from the Beltway to Spring Grove, that'll just be an added blessing and add more to the ambience and the adventure."
Once the work is done, there are smaller parts of the trail that the nonprofit will tackle. The trail will ultimately be a 2.2-mile trail connecting Maiden Choice Lane to Mellor Avenue. Portions of the trail totaling about 1.75 miles — including a one-mile stretch east of Interstate 695, have been completed, Smith said.
The railroad was originally built in 1884 and carried passengers, as well as products like lumber, coal and mail, from Baltimore to the Catonsville area, Smith said. Passenger service stopped in 1898, and the last load of freight was carried in 1972. Catonsville Rails to Trails has been working on converting the path into a walking and biking trail since 1999.
Once the work there is completed, a second portion of the trail, a 400-foot part between Locust Street and Wade Avenue, is set to be developed. It has been funded by donations and is expected to be completed by the end of June, Smith said.