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Meadow River Rail Trail planners set June 12 ribbon-cutting as construction advances
Summary
County officials and local recreation leaders told the Greenbrier County Commission the Meadow River Rail Trail is advancing: phases 1–2 (about 11 miles) are open, Phase 3 has new weather-related schedule changes, and funding from federal and congressional sources is enabling engineering and construction work.
The Greenbrier County Commission heard a progress update on the Meadow River Rail Trail on April 7, 2026, with project leaders saying the trail is moving toward a mid-June opening and broader regional connections.
Dan, a lead presenter for the Meadow River effort, said phases 1 and 2 — roughly 11 miles from the trailhead near the Nallen post office upriver — are open and that Phase 3 adds about 9.5 miles of new trail. "The ribbon cutting is scheduled for 06/12/2026 at 10 a.m. at the new Rainier Trailhead," he said, and noted construction crews are working through weather-related delays.
Why it matters: the project is being positioned as backbone outdoor-recreation infrastructure that county leaders hope will boost tourism and local business formation, tying into the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve and other regional attractions.
Project status and schedule: commissioners approved a change order that extends the Phase 3 substantial completion date by 30 days, moving it from April 7 to May 7, 2026, to account for four weather days when construction could not proceed. Project leaders said the overall contract amount did not change and the overall completion date is projected as May 30, 2026.
Funding and partnerships: the presenter described a mix of funding and partnerships supporting design and construction. The county received pass-through state reimbursements tied to earlier resolutions; a federal lands access program grant provided $750,000 to Fayette County for design and engineering to connect the Meadow River trail to the national park boundary; and the New River Gorge Regional Development Authority sought $3.2 million in congressionally directed spending to fund construction. The presenter said the National Park Service is now collaborating on portions of the project.
Access and amenities: engineering work includes a new parking area and river access in Russellville. The presenter said the county received a transportation alternative grant last year to fund engineering for a Russellville parking area and river access, noting the county owns adjacent parcels targeted for the improvements. A grant from the James Payton Foundation will fund a shelter at the Rainier Trailhead.
Use rules and public input: the presenter clarified that when counties acquired the former rail corridor CSX deed restrictions prevented motorized use, camping and some other activities on the corridor; as a result, ATVs are not permitted on the rail-trail. He said the outdoor recreation plan used extensive public input (surveys, focus groups) and that partnerships with regional groups and businesses are central to providing services such as bike rentals, shuttles and eventual commercial amenities.
Next steps: county and regional leaders said they will continue coordinating with private landowners, state and federal partners, and community stakeholders to finalize connections, services and safety planning for sections with limited cell coverage. The presenter emphasized opportunities for small-business development tied to trail-related tourism and said county officials will continue working on access and parking design reviews.
The commission thanked the presenter and approved the schedule adjustment. The project team asked the public to monitor MeadowRiverRailTrail.com for updates about opening phases and access.
Sources: update presented at the April 7, 2026 Greenbrier County Commission meeting; county motion approved to accept change order for Phase 3 schedule adjustments.
