County Commission Trail plans continue
Actions on the proposed Meadow River Rail Trail continue as the Fayette and Greenbrier County Commissions execute a grant contract with the West Virginia Division of Highways for an additional $750,000 for Phase II of the trail construction. These funds will be added to already received grants which will allow the completion of design plans and the construction on the 16.7 mile rail line in northwestern Greenbrier and northeastern Fayette Counties along the former Nicholas, Fayette and Greenbrier Railway.
“We are very grateful to the Division of Highways for their generosity and their partnership to make this trail a reality,” said Fayette County Commissioner Denise Scalph. “This is such an important project for both our counties.”
Greenbrier County Commission President Mike McClung echoed this sentiment. “Recreation Trails are an important part of the promotion of tourism to our counties. While all our counties position themselves with the ever changing economy in our state, these trails may prove a key element in bringing visitors to our area and energizing our communities.”
Greenbrier County Team Leader for the recreation trail, Doug Hylton, presented an update on the project to the Greenbrier County Commission at Tuesday night’s meeting stating that the contracts had been signed and are in to the Division of Highways for processing. This phase of the project now gives the commissions $1,424,000 in funding to complete this next portion of the trail.
There is a meeting scheduled for Wednesday, Mar. 30, at 3:30 p.m. at the Convention and Visitors Bureau at Washington Street in Lewisburg to discuss the creation of a Greenbrier County Trail Alliance. Anyone interested in participating or learning more about the trail plans for the county are encouraged to attend. “It is time to begin discussions on the creation of a trail system for Greenbrier County,” said Hylton. “This meeting will determine interest in creating an organized effort while the Greenbrier County Commission move forward with the Meadow River Trail construction.”