Cookeville’s active railway is creating issues in the process to expand the rail trail westward.
City Manager James Mills said a railway is considered active when trains can still run on it. He said that the city is trying to create the trail in conjunction with that line with maintaining separation.
“In most places, there are quite a bit of right-of-way that’s over 100 feet, but when you get into the downtown area there are areas that are only 40 feet wide,” Mills said. “And it’s just not physically feasible or possible to put a trail and an active rail line in the same right-of-way.”
Mills said conversations about closing the line have been going on for decades. He said discussions follow two trains of thought: a desire to maintain the railroad, and the thought it would be better suited for a trail.
Mills said in looking at fuel prices, it might make sense to utilize railways more but that most industries have gotten away from using rail for deliveries. He said it would take a big transition to make that a regular staple again.
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