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Definitions

Railbanking—Condition allowing a railroad to "bank" a corridor for future rail use if necessary. During the interim, alternative trail use is a viable option.

Trails glossary and acronyms.


RTC Resources

Be the First to Know! Sign up to receive railroad corridor abandonment notices for your area via RTC's Early Warning System.

Acquiring Rail Corridors: A How-To Manual Chapter 6, "Can You Take Advantage of Railbanking?"

Secrets of Successful Rail-Trails , Chapter 7, "What to Do if the Line is Soon to be Abandoned"

Railbanking Fact Sheet 

Report:
Railbanking and Rail-Trails: A Legacy for the Future 

"Rails-to-Trails Conversions: A Review of Legal Issues"  by Andrea Ferster

More on RTC website about railbanking...

Ask Our Listserv: Learn about trail development from the experts! Join our listserv to be connected to over 900 trail managers, advocates, and builders across the country.

Visit RTC's Trails and Greenways Publication Library

For more information, please contact the appropriate regional or national office.


Additional Resources

Surface Transportation Board: Public Information: Resources: Rails-to-Trails 

General Accounting Office (GAO): "Issues Related to Preserving Inactive Rail Lines as Trails" 

American Trails:  Rails-to-Trails 

The National Park Service: The National Trails System Act 

 

Railbanking:
Example Railbanking and Purchase Agreement

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This document is an example "offer to purchase" and interim trail use/railbanking agreement. The document serves as a resource and should not  not be relied on as a substitute for obtaining legal advice from a licensed attorney.

OFFER TO PURCHASE AND INTERIM TRAIL USE/ RAILBANKING AGREEMENT  


Related Railbanking Topics:

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Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
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