Columbus – Michael Baughman is a resident of Polk County with a young family and business in downtown Tryon. His office in the Historic Tryon Depot overlooks the abandoned Norfolk Southern railroad, giving him a literal and figurative view of the impacts of the proposed tracks of the Saluda Grade Trail.
“I think this will be a great thing for our community,” said Baughman. “I’d love to just get on that trail with the kids and ride from here to Landrum, get a hotdog, turn around come back, I think that would be great. You know, everytime I go to Greenville [South Carolina] I think ‘this is incredible’ with all the options you have to bike, eat and drink, and gather. I think the trail will make this place more desirable.”
The Saluda Grade Trail is a proposed multi-use rail trail that planners hope will mirror the success of Greenville’s Swamp Rabbit Trail. The route follows an unused rail line for approximately 31 miles from Inman, South Carolina to Zirconia, North Carolina. Three non-profit organizations have partnered to create the Saluda Grade Trail Conservancy to spearhead planning, fundraising, and acquisition of the trail.
After a year’s work, the coalition held a public meeting to unveil the findings of a feasibility study completed by design firm TPD, Inc to assess the opportunities and challenges of implementing the trail.
The study began in June of 2023 and included on-the-ground field work, drone surveying, and public engagement sessions. TPD, Inc also completed technical analysis of engineering and logistical concerns and possible economic impacts.
TPD, Inc. representative Teresa Buckwalter shared data gathered from meetings with community stakeholders and property owners along the trail as well as an online survey.
“There’s a lot of enthusiasm, but we also got to hear about folks’ concerns,” said Buckwalter, emphasizing that all comments had been documented. The majority of respondents planned to use the trail a few times a month, and looked forward to traveling the full length or more than ten miles of the trail at a time.
The technical aspects of the feasibility study broke the trail into one-mile long sections for a granular look at the terrain. Overarching issues include erosions and washouts as well as an overgrowth of kudzu. The trail includes 47 road crossings, each of which will require it’s own treatment for pedestrian and vehicle safety.
Buckwalter also shared opportunities from the study, including the fact all eight historic trestle bridges along the line are salvageable in their current state, according to structural engineers. The study also found that the trail’s famously steep grade was still within the guidelines for ADA (Americans With Disabilities Act) compliance, a key factor for grant funding and optimal accessibility.
The presentation ended with an overview of suggested trail typology, or trail width and material, with the majority of the trail consisting of a twleve-foot, asphalt base with three-foot wide shoulders. The study emphasized the need for trail flexibility, to allow communities to select a design that best fits their needs.
Looking ahead, Buckwalter shared the study’s key recommendations for a coordinated funding strategy and a segmented approach to building the trail in sections. “We know people want to use the whole trail, but it’s going to take some time,” said Buckwalter.
The public meeting came on the heels of an August 5 announcement that the Saluda Grade Trail Conservancy is under contract to purchase the 31-mile corridor from Norfolk Southern. The coalition will have one year to complete due diligence and raise the remaining funds for the purchase of the property at an approximate cost of $31.5 million.
According to Conserving Carolina Trails and Greenways coordinator Kristin Cozza, $27 million in state funding has been secured from North and South Carolina. The coalition is seeking additional grant funding to complete the purchase and design phases of the trail.
“It’s kind of huge, it’s a little overwhelming at times, but it’s a tremendous opportunity,” said Cozza. “I just really appreciate that there’s so much support from the community.”
Michael Baughman also spoke at the public meeting, acknowledging the rail trail’s history and challenges. “The last train that brought passengers came through in 1968. Since then, nothing has happened on those tracks, other than kudzu. This should be a public resource for all of us to use and protect. My family and I are big supporters, but I do want to acknowledge it’s not all roses and sunflowers-we have a lot of work to do.”