Railroad Trestle, Mendota. Credit: Rick Heppert
ecological-economic context |
the region |
In Southwest Virginia, the City of Bristol decided to turn over a 12.5 mile segment of abandoned railroad to Mountain Heritage Inc., with the intention of re-purposing the land into a multi-use trail corridor. The proposed Mendota Trail will run from Bristol to Mendota across the western portion of Washington County, Virginia.
The cost of constructing the entire Mendota Trail is estimated to be $2.4 million. The corridor could not only provide substantial recreational opportunities to residents and visitors, but additionally serve as an economic boost to rural Washington County, which has historically relied significantly on the agricultural industry. Key FindingsWe identified economic impact and benefit figures from the Mendota Trail. Results indicate the completion of the project would help bring new jobs and economic opportunities to the area:
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The trail heads northwesterly to Mendota, Virginia, starting near the 1-81 underpass on Island Road at the northern boundary of Bristol, Virginia.
Resources
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Trail recreation bolsters the United States economy with more than $201 billion annually in consumer spending and 1.76 million jobs
—Outdoor Industry Association
—Outdoor Industry Association