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Alliance for the Shenandoah ValleyAlliance for the Shenandoah Valley
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Shenandoah Rail Trail

Haga clic aquí para leer sobre Shenandoah Valley Rail Trail en español.

Friends of Shenandoah Rail Trail

The Alliance, alongside partners, is working to build a new nonprofit, Friends of the Shenandoah Rail Trail, to support the transformation of an unused single-track railroad corridor from Broadway to Front Royal into a multi-use trail reconnecting communities, businesses, schools and cultural and historic resources.

Follow along >> www.shenandoahrailtrail.org

Proposed Route

Keep Me Informed

Keep me informed!

Sign up for updates.

Sign up for emails on the Rail Trail’s Progress

Use the box above to sign up for Shenandoah Rail Trail email updates on trail news, events and progress. We respect your privacy – emails are intermittent, and we won’t share your information with parties not involved in the rail trail project.

Feasibility

In 2020 the General Assembly directed state agencies to conduct a feasibility study for the Shenandoah Rail Trail. This study, requested by our Valley legislators, involved a deep dive to assess the need for a multi-use trail, find out the community’s views, and then, quite literally, look at the nuts and bolts of existing corridor infrastructure to see if a trail would fit and be safe. Read more >>

Broad Support

The creation of the Shenandoah Rail Trail Partnership, the 18-member coalition of towns, counties, planning district commissions and several nonprofits who share a vision of a multi-use Shenandoah Valley Rail Trail is in itself a testament to the widespread support for the project.

In addition to that formal partnership, localities, businesses and community groups are confirming their interest in the project by passing resolutions of support. We’ll track those here—adding new resolutions as they come in.

If you’re a part of an organization that would like to show support, please reach out and we’ll help to get you on the list!

Elected Bodies

Town of Front Royal
Town of Strasburg
Town of Toms Brook
Town of Woodstock
Town of Edinburg
Town of Mount Jackson
Town of New Market
Town of Broadway
Town of Timberville
Rockingham County
Shenandoah County
Warren County

Community Organizations

Northern Shenandoah Valley Regional Commission
Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission
Alliance for the Shenandoah Valley
Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition
Friends of the North Fork of the Shenandoah River
Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce
Shenandoah County Chamber of Commerce
Shenandoah Valley Runners
Shenandoah Valley Partnership
Shenandoah Valley Tourism Partnership
Virginia Tourism Corporation

Trail Benefits

An adult and child on bikes moving away from the camera on a paved path with mountains and trees in the background.

CONNECTIONS

Up and down the route, the trail connects students to school, employees to work, customers to shops, diners to restaurants, and community members to parks, rivers and historic sites.

A group of adults walking with a child on a bicycle and a small dog on a leash along a paved path through a field lined with a log fence.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR EVERYONE

In the Valley, we are surrounded by opportunities to enjoy the outdoors, but many of the trails and paths are remote, and, by the nature of the terrain, suited for advanced trail users. Our rail trail is flat, primarily rural and scenic, and easily accessed from many towns and neighborhoods. It will be a safe and easy way to get outside and walk, run or roll with family members of all ages and abilities.

A large group of people of all ages, some on bikes and some on foot posing for the photo at the beginning of a paved rural multiuse path.

TRANSFORMATIVE

The addition of a rail trial to our first-rate local amenities will attract companies that seek to locate in a place that offers a high quality of life to the folks they employ. This means the potential for new job opportunities across many sectors. And, visitors to the trail will provide economic opportunities for entrepreneurship and for communities to enjoy thriving local business in the town.

READ THE ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY

Corridor History

What was then called Manassas Gap Railroad began construction in 1851 in Manassas. It entered the Shenandoah Valley through Manassas Gap in the Blue Ridge Mountains and reached the town Mount Jackson in 1859. During the Civil War, construction was halted, and much of the rail was destroyed. After the war, construction began anew and the line reached Harrisonburg in 1868 where it is still used by Norfolk Southern south of Broadway. Due to decreased interest in freight service along the corridor, the track between Broadway and Front Royal is no longer in use. Freight service on the corridor has been discontinued in sections beginning in 1989.

What's Next

There are several ways that Norfolk Southern could go about transferring the rail bed to become a trail, all of them pretty complicated. The partnership is committed to exploring all options to find the best fit for the folks living in the towns and counties along the corridor. 

Latest News

Shenandoah Rail Trail FAQs Answered

May 15, 2023Read More
An image of a father steadying his toddler sun on a balance bike along a paved path, overlayed with text promoting meetings at towns along the Shenandoah Rail Trail Route.

Community Input Meeting Dates Scheduled

February 8, 2023Read More
A wide, well-maintained path through a wooded area bordered on the right side by a wooden fence.

Neighboring Rail Trail Landowners and the “Taking” Claim

August 2, 2022Read More
A repurposed rail bridge over a wooded stream is being crossed by cyclists on a sunny day.

State Funding & Securing the Corridor for Future Public Benefit

July 29, 2022Read More

Support Investment in a Shenandoah Rail Trail

January 21, 2022Read More

Local Officials Ask Valley Legislators to Safeguard Rail Trail Budget

January 20, 2022Read More

Related News

Community Input Meeting Dates Scheduled
Feb 08, 2023

It’s time to talk about how we build the best Shenandoah Rail Trail for our region—attend a community meeting near you!

Neighboring Rail Trail Landowners and the “Taking” Claim
Aug 02, 2022

It is commonplace for specialized law firms to try to organize landowners when it becomes public that a rail owner is considering abandoning a rail corridor.

State Funding & Securing the Corridor for Future Public Benefit
Jul 29, 2022

After the long-awaited approval of the state budget, we are excited to announce there is over $90 million set aside for trails.

Support Investment in a Shenandoah Rail Trail
Jan 21, 2022

Tell your legislators you support the state investment in multi-use trails, like the Shenandoah Rail Trail.

Local Officials Ask Valley Legislators to Safeguard Rail Trail Budget
Jan 20, 2022

Shenandoah Rail Trail Exploratory Partnership members signed and delivered a letter asking for help to secure funds for a multi-use from Broadway to Front Royal.

A Shenandoah Rail Trail IS feasible!
Jan 11, 2022

A study conducted by state agencies found that a Shenandoah Rail Trail IS feasible and also that there is overwhelming support for the concept.

Proposed State Funding for the Shenandoah Rail Trail
Dec 08, 2021

Today Virginia Governor Ralph Northam announced funding for multi-use trails that will make the vision of a Shenandoah Rail Trail connecting the towns from Broadway to Front Royal a step closer to reality.

Economic Impact of a Shenandoah Rail Trail
Oct 25, 2021

In addition to all the expected community benefits the trail will offer, Shenandoah Valley communities also stand to benefit economically.

Shenandoah Rail Trail Feasibility Study Preliminary Report
Jul 30, 2021

It was exciting to hear that most of the feedback from the stakeholder meetings and the online survey was very supportive of the project.

What do you think? A Shenandoah Valley Rail Trail?
May 19, 2021

It’s time to share your views! State agencies are seeking public input on the concept of a Shenandoah Valley Rail Trail.

Support Our Work! Donate Online Here

Get In Touch

  • Kate Wofford, Executive Director
  • Alliance for the Shenandoah Valley
  • 9485 S Congress St • PO Box 674 • New Market, VA
  • (540) 908-3914
  • info@shenandoahalliance.org

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