Redevelopment commission urged to secure trail right‑of‑way as railroad sale proceeds

Dave Kitchell updated the commission that the Logansport New River Railroad’s right‑of‑way is being sold to an out‑of‑state buyer, and that the redevelopment commission has an opportunity to secure a trail right‑of‑way now as part of the transaction.

Kitchell told the commission the buyer (identified in the discussion as Ed Ray) plans to reactivate part of the rail line and that, if the commission acts now, the right‑of‑way for a trail could be preserved at no immediate cost to the commission. "We're offering to do this as a right of way now at no cost to you," Kitchell said, describing the window of opportunity before the buyer installs new track and crossings.

Kitchell said the redevelopment commission requested preliminary engineering for the trail connecting to the River Bluff Trail and for safety/crossing planning, and proposed hiring Hitchcock Design Group for that work at an estimated $114,000. Commissioners discussed grant eligibility — noting that some grants require an active rail line before infrastructure funding is available — and whether the RDC or city should lead final design and safety planning.

Board members asked whether businesses in the area would use restored rail service and whether the new owner would prioritize freight over trail access. Kitchell and commissioners agreed to continue coordination and confirmed the right‑of‑way proposal is time‑sensitive because reactivation will raise safety and crossing‑requirement issues.

No formal vote to fund the engineering work was recorded in the transcript; commissioners asked staff to continue discussions and to bring a formal recommendation later.