The North Bend Rail Trail (NBRT) that crosses four counties in north-central West Virginia recently was awarded grant funding of a little more than $1 million for continued trail improvements, repairs and maintenance. The eastern counties that the North Bend Rail Trail dissects will be the primary work focus for funding.
The North Bend Rail Trail is popular with hikers, bikers, horseback riding and walkers. It features 13 tunnels, is relatively flat, and stretches 72 miles beginning in Happy Valley in Wood County and ending in Harrison County near Wolf Pen. It is an east-west trail, once the rail line for B&O and the CSX system. Details about the NBRT is available at www.northbendrailtrailstatepark.com.
”The North Bend Rail Trail Foundation was a key factor in the success of achieving grant funding,” said Ryan Burns with the West Virginia Division of Highways (WVDOH). “The foundation raised funds used to match initial grant requirements.”
The original funding for trail work is a combination of Recreational Trails and Transportation Enhancement Program funds, the North Bend Rails-to-Trails Foundation, Inc., and multiple sources which created a collaborative partnership involving the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, WVDOH and the NBRT Foundation. The combined trail funding has resulted in a combined total of $1.035-million. The funding is granted through the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and administered by the WVDOH.
“The NBRT, one of the premier rail trails in West Virginia, has needed maintenance work performed on its eastern section, but funding was not available,” said NBRT Superintendent Paul Elliott. “Trail improvements will include tread surface hardening and much-needed drainage work along the trail in sections in Doddridge and Harrison counties. Everyone involved is dedicated to keeping North Bend Rail Trail one of the best in the Eastern US. Grant funds and interested groups working together keep good work happening in West Virginia.”
