TopShelf1
08-13-09, 12:01 PM
Does anyone know the status of plans to extend the Western Maryland Rail Trail through Indigo Tunnel to Little Orleans?
Northeast - Western Maryland Rail Trail - Indigo Tunnel
Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.View Full Version : Western Maryland Rail Trail - Indigo Tunnel
jagraham
08-13-09, 04:21 PM
Status = on hold. Not too much in the news lately, but many believe that the tunnel won't be opened for bicycle access. I thought that the environmental impact study would become available after the spring count this year.
"A planned and funded extension to this biking Rail Trail would take it through Indigo Tunnel located ten miles southwest of Hancock, MD within the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park. This abandoned railroad tunnel is one of the largest, still healthy hibernaculum to five species of bats including the Eastern Small-footed bat listed by Maryland as endangered and the Indiana bat on the federal endangered species list. An environmental impact study is in the works. White Nose Syndrome has been killing bats in droves in the Northeast but none has been reported in Indigo Tunnel. The University of Maryland Appalachian Lab in Frostburg, MD traps and tracks bats at Indigo Tunnel as part of the environmental study and White Nose Syndrome surveillance. (Sources: Nov. 15, 2008 Baltimore Sun and batworld.org)"
Batworld.org (http://batworld.org/main/action_alert-IndigoTunnel.html) seems to be running a campaign to stop the development of the bike trail through the tunnel.
Judy
"A planned and funded extension to this biking Rail Trail would take it through Indigo Tunnel located ten miles southwest of Hancock, MD within the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park. This abandoned railroad tunnel is one of the largest, still healthy hibernaculum to five species of bats including the Eastern Small-footed bat listed by Maryland as endangered and the Indiana bat on the federal endangered species list. An environmental impact study is in the works. White Nose Syndrome has been killing bats in droves in the Northeast but none has been reported in Indigo Tunnel. The University of Maryland Appalachian Lab in Frostburg, MD traps and tracks bats at Indigo Tunnel as part of the environmental study and White Nose Syndrome surveillance. (Sources: Nov. 15, 2008 Baltimore Sun and batworld.org)"
Batworld.org (http://batworld.org/main/action_alert-IndigoTunnel.html) seems to be running a campaign to stop the development of the bike trail through the tunnel.
Judy