1. Royal Oak to Bloomfield
Concept for a Rail-with-Trail through S.E. Oakland County
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2. History Railroad was built between 1836 & 48
Initially along the East side of Woodward
1925: Wider Woodward Ave. Group
Dream of making Woodward a broad Blvd.
State made a deal with the GTWRR
Traded corridor of Land about 1 mile East for the R.O.W. along Woodward
Very controversial project
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3. Original Concept Four parallel rails: (2 freight; 2 passenger)
Plus Aerial super speedway for autos
The Birmingham Station was built
Project never got beyond two parallel tracks shared by freight and commuter service
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4. Original Concept - 2 Did have commuter parking & platforms:
14 Mile Rd.
Charing Cross
Long Lake
18 Grade Separated Vehicle Crossings in 9.3 miles
Project terminated prematurely by the Great Depression
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5. Trail Specifications Trail Head (S.E.): Royal Oak Amtrak 11 Mile
Trail Head (N.W.): Opdyke & Kensington Rds
Length: Miles
Owned by: Canadian National Railroad
Terrain:
Flat from 11Mile to Maple
Significant ‘Cut & Fill’ n. of Maple
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6. Railroad Overpass Specifications
Number eleven (11)
Width: 55 feet
Used by Rail: 31 feet
Available for Trail: 24 feet
3 foot concrete railing on ides
All North of 14 Mile also have chain link fence on top of concrete
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7. Features / Benefits
No interaction with motor vehicles in entire 9.3 mile extent of route.
Many convenient Access points
Services the most densely part of Oakland County
A Linear Park interconnecting traditional Parks and other linear parks in Oakland Cty
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8. Features / Benefits (cont.)
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9. Acquisition of R.O.W. Propose Lease from Canadian National 9/16/2019
R.O. to Bloomfield

10. Benefits to Canadian National
Liability might be assumed by the Trail Organizatiom
Trespassing Reduced
Fence between Trail and Rails
Legitimize existing casual use that has existed for year
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11. Rail Concerns (Potential)
Trespassing
Liability
Safety
Train derailments
People hi by trains
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12. Communities Affected Community Distance Royal Oak 3.78 miles
Birmingham
2.44 miles
Bloomfield Twnshp
1.45 miles
Bloomfield Hills
1.67 miles
Total
9.34 miles
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13. Population Density (Potential Users)
Based on April 2000 Census data (SEMCOG Web-Site)
Eleven Communities along Woodward Ave.
Estimated population w/in 2 miles of trail: 118,000 (10% of Oakland Cty Residents)
12,650 people per mile
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14. Potential Uses Quick travel between Royal Oak and Birmingham
Artery to reach linked trails in northern Oakland County
Short cut between localized street trails
Exercise – walking and biking
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15. Access Points – Royal Oak
Royal Oak Amtrak Station
Meininger Park (Royal Oak)
Overpasses at:
Greenleaf Dr.
Benjamin St
Normandy
Several other convenient spots
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16. Access Points - Birmingham
New Condo Complex adj. To Amtrak Sta.
Birmingham Amtrak Station
Derby Middle School
Manor Park (Birmingham)
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17. Access Points – Bloomfield Hills
Charing Cross Rd, Commuter Platform
Office complex on Bloomfield Hills Pkwy
Stonycroft Golf Course parking lot
OCC Admin. Office – Opdyke Rd.
Opdyke & Kensington Intersection – N.W. Trail Head
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18. Points of Interest – Royal Oak
Heart of downtown Royal Oak
Royal Oak Dondero High School
Meininger Park
Normandy oaks Golf Course
Royal Oak Country Club
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19. Points of Interest - Birmingham
Clover Hill Cemetery
Big Rock Restaurant (old Birmingham Depot 1930)
Downtown Birmingham - 2 miles
Derby Middle School
Manor Park
Georgian Bloomfield Nursing Home
Springdale Golf course
Rouge River
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20. Points of Interest – Bloomfield Hills
Charing Cross Commuter Parking / Platform
Trowbridge Rd. Vehicle Overpass
Bloomfield Hill Parkway Office complex
Bloomfield Open Hunt Club
Stonycroft Golf Course
OCC Administrative Offices
St. Hugo Catholic Church and School
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21. Present Shared Commercial Uses
Service Road for Railroad
Detroit Edison Power Lines
Cellular Phone antennas & shelters
AT&T Transcontinental Comm. Cable
US SPRINT fiber optic cable
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22. Case Studies (Rails with Trails)
“Design, Management & Operation of Trails Along Active Railroads”
by: Rails with Trails Conservancy, Nov. 2000
61 Case studies documented in Detail
Three (3) in Michigan
The Railroad Trail, Fredrick to Gaylord
TART, Traverse City to Acme
Gallup Park Trail, Ann Arbor
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23. Gallup Park Trail Ann Arbor, MI
Length of Trail
3.0 Miles
Distance from Tracks
10 ft. (varies)
Barrier
5 ft. Chain Link Fence
Owner of RR Corridor
Norfolk Southern
Trains per Day 8
Train Speed
60 mph
Uses
Walk, bike, r-blade, and
x-country skiing
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24. Gallup Park Trail Ann Arbor, MI (cont.)
Accidents
None
Maintenance
$1,000/mile/year
Acquisition
Lease $1,000/year
Funding
Local Park Bond monies,
MNR Trust Fund
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25. Development Required Surface - graded and coated
Fencing between rails and trail
User Access points improved
Service Vehicle access points
Protective Fencing on all over passes from 14 mile South
Signage
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26. Next Steps
Contact the Canadian Northern to explore the feasibility of Leasing 9.3 miles of their right of way
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