Thermal Belt Rail Trail |
Description of Project
The proposed Thermal Belt Rail Trail is a 13.36 mile long greenway trail following the path of the current Rutherford County Railroad and begins at Forrest Hunt Elementary School south of the Alexander Mills community in Forest City and runs northward to the Gilkey Community, ending at Oak Springs Road near US 221. The first 6.4 miles of the trail beginning at Forrest Hunt Elementary School are unimproved. A 2.4 mile section beginning in Spindale and extending to US 64 in Ruth is paved, but only the width of the railroad ties (approximately 6-feet in width) . The remaining 4.6 mile section to Gilkey has a compacted gravel base installed above the rails and crossties. The Thermal Belt Rail Trail project seeks to make improvements to this valuable resource and provide enhanced pedestrian connectivity between the neighboring communities of Rutherford County. This survey requests public input as to the future usage of the trail. Overall rail trail improvements will include trailhead parking and access, wayfinding signage, and other accessible recreation amenities.