Rails to Trails
The City of Oak Ridge is turning 4.6 miles of abandoned CSX railroad within the city into a greenway for pedestrians and bicycles as part of an ongoing project named Rails to Trails. The greenway will extend from Elza Gate at the Oak Ridge Turnpike, along Fairbanks Road, Warehouse Road, Lafayette Road, and across S. Illinois Avenue to the Y-12 National Security Complex.
The Rails to Trails project began in July 2017 with Oak Ridge City Council approving a funding agreement with the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT), stating in which TDOT would cover 80% of the estimated $1.53 million project cost.
Back in November 2021, a public meeting was held to present the proposed trail design and gather community feedback. The next phase of the project is now set to begin with TDOT being issued a notice to proceed with right-of-way acquisition in September 2024, marking a major milestone as the project moves closer to construction.
View a photo album of the trail lines set to become greenways
Opportunities to Engage
Stay Informed
Get notified on upcoming engagements and the latest project related news.
Project Updates
Important Dates
Project Begins
The Rails to Trails project was initiated in the City of Oak Ridge to turn 4.6 miles of abandoned CSX railroad tracks into a walkway for pedestrians.
Council Approves Agreement With TDOT
City Council approves an agreement with Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) for Rails to Trails project in the estimated amount of $1,530,000 with TDOT reimbursing the city for 80% estimated at $1,224,000 and the city responsible for 20% local match estimated at $306,000.
City gets the Notice to Proceed to consult an engineering firm
City of Oak Ridge gets the notice to proceed from Tennessee Department of Transportation to consult with an engineering firm to do all phases of preliminary work.
Project Agreement
City of Oak Ridge and Tennessee Department of Transportation come up with an agreement on the phases and due date of Rails to Trails.
City of Oak Ridge requests engineering firms qualifications and Letters of Interest.
City of Oak Ridge sneds out a notice to consultant engineers for a request of qualifications and letters of interest.
City of Oak Ridge Interviews engineering firms
City of Oak Ridge makes a list of top engineering firms and invite them to interview for Rails to Trails project.
City of Oak Ridge decides to go with A. Morton Thomas & Associates, Inc. for Rails to Trails project
City of Oak Ridge ranks the engineering firms that they interviewed and ultimatley choose A. Morton Thomas & Associates, Inc. to be the engineering firm on the project Rails to Trails.
City of Oak Ridge makes an estimate on Rails to Trails project.
City of Oak Ridge drafts an Independet cost estimate and scope of work for, NEPA, Design, ROW and CEI. the total estimate came out to be around $1,381,200.
AMT outlines project plan and required forms for the agreement
A. Morton Thomas & Associates, Inc sends the Cityof Oak Ridge an outline plan of the project and required forms for the project for their agrrement.
City receives notice to proceed with preliminary engineering for final design phase.
City of Oak Ridge receives notice to proceed with preliminary engineering for finsl design phase.
Drop in Public Meeting
The City held a drop in public meeting in the Oak Ridge Civic Center Gym, to present the trail design and next steps for the project, and to seek input from residents.
TDOT given notice to proceed
TDOT was given the notice to proceed and right-of-way acquisition (ROW)