WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor Ch. 658

contribute to meet the objectives of the Maryland Land Preservation and recreation
Plan, and the objectives of existing and future growth management plans at all levels of
government; and

WHEREAS, There are no consistent policies or programs in Maryland addressing
the protection and multiuse of abandoned railroad corridors;

WHEREAS, the General Assembly recognizes the importance to the citizens of
Maryland of retaining abandoned railroad corridors for public multiuse including
possible future rail use, supports the results of the Maryland Rails-to-Trails Study, and
is prepared to assist in its implementation; now, therefore,

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article - Natural Resources

5-1009.

(A) THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FINDS THAT:

(1) IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THE PUBLIC WITH ACCESS TO THE
USE, ENJOYMENT, AND APPRECIATION OF THE OUTDOOR AREAS OF
MARYLAND, IT IS DECLARED TO BE THE PUBLIC POLICY OF THIS STATE
TO PROVIDE THE MEANS AND PROCEDURES FOR ESTABLISHING AND
EXPANDING A NETWORK OF RECREATIONAL AND SCENIC TRAILS;

(2) ABANDONED RAILROAD CORRIDOR PROPERTY IS A
UNIQUE SOURCE OF LAND CORRIDORS THAT ARE, IN MANY CASES,
SUITABLE FOR RECREATIONAL TRAILS;

(3) RAILROAD CORRIDOR PROPERTY IS BEING ABANDONED
AT A HIGH RATE AND IS OFTEN SOLD IN SEGMENTS, THEREBY
FRAGMENTING THE ORIGINAL CORRIDORS AND LEAVING
UNCONNECTED SEGMENTS WHICH ARE MAY BE SUITABLE FOR
ACQUISITION FOR RECREATIONAL TRAIL USE;

(4) THE PRESERVATION OF ABANDONED RAIL CORRIDOR
PROPERTY FOR USE AS RECREATIONAL TRAILS IS IN THE PUBLIC
INTEREST; AND

(5) A SYSTEMATIC AND CONTINUING STATEWIDE PROGRAM
OF ACQUIRING ABANDONED RAILROAD CORRIDOR PROPERTY IS
NEEDED TO PRESERVE THIS UNIQUE AND IRREPLACEABLE SOURCE OF
RECREATIONAL TRAILS.

(B) (1) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL MAINTAIN LIAISON WITH,
PROVIDE FACTUAL DATA TO, AND WORK WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION, THE STATE RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION, THE
OFFICE OF PLANNING, AND OTHER AGENCIES, AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS TO DETERMINE THE SUITABILITY FOR TRAIL PURPOSES

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