There is unsettling news which I first came across in
Biking Bis by
Gene Bisbee. The US Supreme Court is hearing the case
Marvin M. Brandt Revocable Trust et al., v. United States which challenges
General Railroad Right of Way Act of 1875, a law that granted land use rights to railroads for the purpose of developing transportation in the western states. The 1875 law stated that when the railroad was abandoned, the property would return to the United States. The law has been instrumental in developing the Rails To Trails community paths in much of the west. The court action concerns a short section of the
Medicine Bow Rail-Trail, a US Forest Service multi use trail, but the court decision could affect many trails already in existence or proposed, including the
John Wayne Pioneer Trail. Reading the summary from Scotusblog.com it is possible that this proceeding will only apply to the particular way that land was traded between the US Forest Service and the land owners filing the appeal. We will follow this with interest.
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