Rail Trail Segment 7

REQUEST: $2,500,000

Public Works/Open Space and Trails
ICIP# 43135 LCS ID# 3903

What is this Project?

Santa Fe County collaborated with the City of Santa Fe in the planning and construction of the Santa Fe Rail Trail, which will be an 18-mile regional trail when complete. The City portion of the trail extends from the Santa Fe Railyards to I-25. The County portion of the trail runs from I-25 near Rabbit Road to Spur Ranch Road. It will eventually reach the historic Lamy Depot. The entire Rail Trail project includes land acquisition, trail construction, drainage improvements and trailhead installation and improvements.

Segment 7, from US 285 to the Lamy Depot, is the final portion of the 18-mile trail. This segment includes a safe crossing across US 285. This project is to conduct preliminary engineering, design and construction of a safe crossing of US 285 to continue the Rail Trail to Lamy.

Why is this Project Needed?

The Rail Trail benefits the community by:

Providing enhanced multimodal links between communities as well as commuting options;
Continuing to bolster the County's reputation as an outdoor recreation and mountain biking destination; and
Encourage economic development around the Lamy Depot

For years, the Santa Fe Southern Railway (SFSR) allowed public access to a two-track maintenance road running parallel to the track for use as an informal trail. The maintenance road, however, was (and is) not a public trail and did not comply with federal safety requirements and NMDOT’S requirements for multi-use trails within the state-owned right-of-way. In 1997, Santa Fe County purchased an easement from SFSR to build a safe, non-motorized and multimodal commuter and recreational trail along the railway. Segment 7 will complete that vision.