Number: 1986-05
WHEREAS, abandoned railroad rights-of-way provide significant benefits to sportsmen, including conservation of wildlife habitat and access to hunting and fishing locations; and
WHEREAS, such railroad rights-of-way represent a significant percentage of the remaining natural habitat outside of government preserves; and
WHEREAS, railroad rights-of-way also provide recreational opportunities for jogging, hiking, hunting, bicycling, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, horseback riding, wildlife observation, and other motorized and nonmotorized forms of recreation; and
WHEREAS, Congress has expressed its intent and desire that railroad rights-of-way, where suitable for alternative public uses, be conserved for such uses; and
WHEREAS, despite this statement of Congressional intent, railroad rights-of-way are being authorized for abandonment by the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) at the rate of several thousand miles a year; and
WHEREAS, such authorizations for abandonment often do not provide for assignment of the right-of-way to public agencies or eligible conservation organizations for management as public recreational facilities; and
WHEREAS, retention of abandoned railroad rights-of-way in public use or ownership can provide significant economic benefits to surrounding communities and provide a corridor for rapid transit service or renewed rail service should such service become economically feasible; and
WHEREAS, abandoned railroad rights-of-way often serve as wind breaks and shelterbelts for surrounding agricultural lands, preventing soil loss, creating edge, and preserving the biological diversity of such areas;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation in annual meeting assembled March 20-23, 1986, in Seattle, Washington, hereby resolves that abandoned railroad rights-of-way, whenever suitable for alternative public uses, be retained for such uses; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the ICC, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Interior, and all managing state and federal agencies be requested to retain such suitable abandoned railroad rights-of-way in public use and ownership to the maximum extent possible; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation supports all reasonable measures necessary to create, conserve, and maintain a nationwide system of abandoned railroad rights-of-way for public recreational uses.