Bill introduced to bar snowmobiles from BB Spur Rail Trail; sponsor asks AOT to restore prior restrictions

An unnamed representative introduced H.894 on Feb. 17 in the House Transportation Committee, asking the Agency of Transportation to restore earlier restrictions and prohibit snowmobiles on the BB Spur Rail Trail. "Our purpose is to prohibit the use of snowmobiles on the DB Spur rail trip, and this is it during the summer months," the sponsor said, presenting slides and historical documents.

The sponsor described the BB Spur Rail Trail as about 3.75 miles long and roughly 7–8 feet wide in places, with several narrow bridges that he said make mixing pedestrians, cyclists and snowmobiles unsafe. "We contend that the trail is not safe for pedestrians and snowmobilers together on such a small path," he told the panel, citing shared-use-path design guidance that recommends 10–12-foot widths for standard two-way shared…