Our Trail Journey So Far and The Adventure Ahead

Our Journey So Far 17 of 130 Miles Developed with All-Weather Surface $6 Million Spent on Development from 2003 through 2015 Texas Parks & Wildlife Recreational Trail Grant – 9 Each Trail Supporters – Individuals, Businesses & Foundations Thousands of Volunteer Hours Local, N.E. Texas and DFW Area

Farmersville to Merit – 5.5 Miles Rail Bank Agency – City of Farmersville Collin County & Hunt County 5.5 Miles Developed - All-Weather Surface of Concrete, asphalt or decomposed granite $1.5 Million Spent on Development Texas Parks & Wildlife Recreational Trail Grant – 1 Each

Merit to Ladonia – 25 Miles Rail Bank Agency – Chaparral Rails to Trails Hunt County & Fannin County Also Passes Through Cities of Celeste and Wolfe City Much of Trail Accessible but No All-Weather Surface Trail Steward Group of 4 to 7 Clearing Non-Accessible Trail

Ladonia to Paris – 26 Miles Rail Bank Agency – Chaparral Rails to Trails Fannin County, Delta County and Lamar County Also Passes Through Cities of Pecan Gap, Ben Franklin and Roxton Much of Trail Accessible but No All-Weather Surface Trail Clearing Underway by Chaparral RTT – Most Recent Clearing – 9.5 Miles from Roxton to Paris North Sulphur River Bridge Collapsed - $3.1M Replacement Cost TxDOT – TAP Grant Appl. Submitted – Roxton to Paris Phase 1 Improvements

City of Paris – 7.5 Mile Trail de Paris Rail Bank Agency – City of Paris, Lamar County 3.5 Miles of Developed Asphalt All-Weather Surface 4 Bridges Replaced – Salvaged Truss, RR Flat Car & New Truss 4 Additional Miles Currently Under Development $4 Million Spent on Development of 7.5 Miles Texas Parks & Wildlife Recreational Trail Grants – 3 Each TxDOT – TAP Grant Appl. Submitted to Connect NETT to Downtown Paris

City of Reno – 3 Miles Rail Bank Agency – City of Reno, Lamar County 3 Mile Reno Rail Trail Fully Developed Asphalt All-Weather Surface Texas Parks & Wildlife Recreational Trail Grants – 1 Each

Prairiland Trail – 3.5 Miles Rail Bank Agency – Great Paris Development Foundation Lamar County between Reno and Blossom 3.5 Miles of Trail Developed Asphalt Millings/Aggregate/Oil All-Weather Surface Washed Out Bridge Replaced with Salvaged County Truss Bridge Texas Parks & Wildlife Recreational Trail Grants – 1 Each

City of Blossom – 1.5 Miles Rail Bank Agency – Great Paris Development Foundation Eastern Lamar County 1.5 Miles of Blossom Rail Trail Under Development All-Weather Asphalt Surface Installed by Year End Connects to City Park/Museum/Library Site Texas Parks & Wildlife Recreational Trail Grants – 1 Each

Blossom to Clarksville – 18.5 Miles Rail Bank Agency – Great Paris Development Foundation Lamar County & Red River County Passes Through Cities of Detroit and Bagwell 14.5 Miles in Red River County Cleared Through Trail Blazer Jump Start Program Donations from Individuals ($9K) 4 Miles Cleared in Lamar County by Local Contractor (Donation) Crosses US Hwy 82 – RR Bridge Removed - $900K Replacement Cost TxDOT – TAP Grant Application Submitted - Phase 1 Improvements

City of Clarksville – 2 Miles Rail Bank Agency – City of Clarksville, Red River County 1 Mile Fully Developed with Rock All-Weather Surface Railroad Bridge Rehabilitated with Concrete Deck Texas Parks & Wildlife Recreational Trail Grant – 1 Each

Clarksville to Avery – 15.5 Miles Rail Bank Agency – Clarksville, Annona and Avery Eastern Half of Red River County 7.5 Miles Cleared Through Trail Blazer Jump Start Program Donations from City of Clarksville ($3K) and Individuals ($6K) Annona and Avery Trail Sections Cleared by each City Seeking Funding From Lennox Foundation & Meadows Foundation

Avery to New Boston – 22 Miles Rail Bank Agency – City of Avery and Bowie County Red River County & Bowie County Passing Through DeKalb Avery VFD Constructed Hostel for Trail Users 1 Mile in New Boston Fully Developed-Asphalt All-Weather Surface 1.3 Miles Under Development Through Texas Parks & Wildlife Recreational Trail Grant 8.5 Miles TxDOT US Hwy 82 widening project from DeKalb to New Boston will be re-accessed upon completion due to affects of construction on RR corridor

The Adventure Ahead Full Development of 113 Miles of Trial Coordination in 7 Counties and 19 Cities Capitalize on Major Funding Sources

Trail Completion Scope Minor to moderate clearing of trees and brush Filling low areas where railroad ballast has been removed Repair railroad bridge decks and abutments Install handrails on all bridges Installing eight pedestrian bridges Replacing damaged drainage culverts Railroad rail & cross-tie removal Install base material and all weather surface Install signage along trail and at road crossings Install safety bollards and striping

Trail Completion Scope & Cost Tree and Brush Clearing = $840,000 Fill Material to Replace Ballast = $550,000 Bridge Deck & Abutment Repairs = $ 2,480,000 Bridge Handrail Installations = $ 2,080,000 Pedestrian Bridges (TxDOT R.O.W.) = $ 4,250,000 Pedestrian Bridges (Non-TxDOT R.O.W.) = $ 4,580,000 Drainage Culvert Replacements = $90,000 RR Rail & Cross-Tie Removal = $1,600,000 Base Material & All Weather Surface = $15,850,000 Signage, Safety Bollards & Striping = $680,000 TOTAL TRAIL COST ESTIMATE = $33,000,000

Current Trail Funding Sources TxDOT Transportation Alternatives Program Red River Co application = $472,109 Lamar Co – Prairiland Trail application = $145,200 Lamar Co – Chaparral Trail application = $405,836 City of Paris – Trail de Paris application = $867,662 Trail de Paris – SE 8 th Street to SW 4 th Street Texas Parks & Wildlife Dept. Grant = $200,000 Trail de Paris – West Trail Segment TxDOT - T.A.P. Grant = $605,398 Total Current & Potential Funds = $2,696,205 + Local

N.E.T.T. Future Funding Challenges Historically Funding: $6M / 12 Years = $0.5M / Yr Estimated Cost of Completion = $33M Time Line To Complete NETT: $33M / $0.5M / Yr

66 YEARS!!!

The Trail to Conquering Challenges Increased Support from Organizations / Entities that Support the Development of Recreational Trails Rails to Trails Conservancy Other Rails to Trails Advocacy Groups Texas Parks & Wildlife Department Texas Department of Transportation Increased Funding From Multiple Sources Foundations – Local, State & National Texas Parks & Wildlife Department Texas Department of Transportation

Questions???