Multiuse trails located adjacent to active rail lines, have become increasingly common in the United States.
While the idea of shared use corridors has gained acceptance, what of the idea of Rails with Trails with high speed trains? Are these two uses compatible? Alta staff, through various field trials, concludes that at a distance of 30 feet, a train moving at 90 mph does not create significant negative impacts on trail users. These results only confirm the previous conclusions of the Federal Railroad Administration which conducted its own test, using an even higher testing speed (150 mph). Bottom line: the presence of high speed rail is not a legitimate reason for objecting to a rail with trails project.The article concludes with several recommendations on what measures can be undertaken to create a safe and useful trail facility, without compromising train operations or safety. [Editor's note: The link below is to a 150K PDF document.
Thanks to John Williams
FULL STORY: Trails and High Speed Rail: Are they compatible?

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Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont