The rails to trails problem with paving, could be as FBinNY stated of being an ownership issue.

We've had a similar problem with a rail corridor within the city, which has not been used iover a decade or so. Although generally open to the public for crossing, at some locations local residents taken up to spending a lot of time and effort to turn sections into community gardens. All these were recently bulldozed by the rail company who had to maintain their property. The city has been trying to buy the stretch of rail corridor, but unfortunately the asking price and willing to pay were magnitudes apart.

The rail company wants to develop the land, but the city has rezoned the land to prevent commercial development but rather use the corridor as a greenway. Stalemate.

So it sits... back to bare rail land without soul. For a while there, the community gardens were stunning!

CP Rail orders Arbutus corridor community gardens, property, businesses to be removed - British Columbia - CBC News