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Ranging from large, multi-use trails that offer a wide variety of recreation and transportation uses to nature trails that create opportunities to enjoy the natural environments within a city, most people would agree that trails help contribute to the overall quality of life.
As more cities embrace the popularity of trails and add to their inventory, officials end up dealing with some difficult issues regarding costs. Balancing the initial cost of development with long-term maintenance costs becomes increasingly important as budgets are stretched thin. Good judgment and sound design become even more important if cities are to meet the goal of providing good service in the most cost-effective manner possible.
Columbia, Mo., has experienced a growth in trail popularity over the past 30 years, and has learned by experience the importance of making sound judgments when it comes to trail design. In 1978, the city began its commitment to build a network of trails by choosing to convert the abandoned MKT Railroad spur line to a recreation trail.
