National Association of Reversionary Property Owners

Most railroad rights of way were acquired from property owners in the late 1800's. A variety of legal tools were used, such as outright purchase, temporary easements, or eminent domain. This would be unimaginable today at this scale, but back then there was the political will and the public support to make this happen, because railroads served a greater public good - mass transportation.

Many rail lines have since become obsolete, though, and the corridors have fallen in disrepair. The reasons for this vary, depending on each specific line, but include the rise of the automobile, changes in local demographics, and public transportation at large being considered a phenomenon of yesteryear, and falling out of favor in many communities.

Common sense should tell us that this can only be temporary, and that the availability of energy-efficient mass transportation will once again become an economic factor for many regions. In the meantime, the public benefit of multi-use shared paths, greenways, and linear parks in our communities cannot be underestimated. As a people, a country, a community, we cannot afford that existing rail corridors and the associated rights of way are lost. The Rails to Trails Conservancy and other advocacy groups have come to the rescue and have been fighting for legislative ammendments, heightened public awareness, and the factual re-establishment of at-risk rights of way through multi-use trails in place of unused rail corridors.

Interestingly, Rails-to-Trails conversion projects frequently face stiff opposition, though, and the reasons are not immediately clear to the novice observer. After studying some of the more notorious projects around the country, though, it becomes evident that there are two main motivation factors that drive opposition - fear and greed. They often work together.

The National Association of Reversionary Property Owners (NARPO) is one of the more prominent groups advocating for the rights of property owners and abutters affected by rails-to-trails conversion projects. Richard Welch is the Exective Director. To be fair, there appear to have been instances where NARPO has been able to help property owners to their right. States and municipalities have not always followed legally sound procedures when converting rail corridors to rail trails, and it such cases justice had to be served.

But NARPO's agenda goes beyond establishing justice. On Welch's web site we can learn a lot about the arguments and tactics that are used to promote rail trail opposition.

Follow this link to Dick Welch's website.