{"id":25644,"date":"2014-09-08T22:35:28","date_gmt":"2014-09-09T03:35:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.texbiker.net\/blog\/?p=25644"},"modified":"2014-09-08T22:35:28","modified_gmt":"2014-09-09T03:35:28","slug":"texas-bicycle-blog-and-news-digest-september-8th","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.texbiker.net\/blog\/2014\/09\/08\/texas-bicycle-blog-and-news-digest-september-8th\/","title":{"rendered":"Texas Bicycle Blog and News Digest September 8th"},"content":{"rendered":"

Abandoned rail spur could become trails<\/a><\/h2>\n

By ADAM RUSSELL\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 \u00c2\u00a0www.tylerpaper.com<\/h3>\n

An abandoned rail spur between Whitehouse and Troup could be the catalyst for multiple short- and long-term transportation options, including hiking and biking trails.
\nThe Texas Department of Transportation has pledged $400,000 to help the North East Texas Regional Mobility Authority purchase a 50 linear acre railway corridor stretching between Farm-to-Market Road 346 in Whitehouse and North Front Street in Troup. The mobility authority would be responsible for any money above the pledge.
\nUnion Pacific Railroad owns the 8-mile corridor.
\nUnion Pacific abandoned the corridor and salvaged the track, leaving a rail bed.
\nThe mobility authority has 110 days (120 days as of Aug. 28) to negotiate terms of the sale with Union Pacific, said state Transportation Commissioner Jeff Austin III.
\nThe mobility authority hopes to purchase the corridor to \u00e2\u20ac\u0153preserve an asset\u00e2\u20ac\u009d for possible future use as bike\/walk trails, commuter\/freight rail, utilities or…<\/p>\n