Perry County moves to convert abandoned Hazard rail corridor into mile-long trail

Perry County leaders have approved beginning negotiations with CSX to acquire roughly one mile of an abandoned rail corridor in Hazard for conversion into a multi-use trail. County officials say the project would connect downtown Hazard with the Allais neighborhood, the technical college, the water plant, and the Lost Creek area while offering new pedestrian and bicycle access and potential emergency routes.

The corridor runs from downtown Hazard along North Main Street toward Upper Second Creek near the London Bridge area and passes several neighborhoods and community resources. The project would follow a rails-to-trails model and use railbanking, the legal process under the National Trails System Act of 1983 that preserves unused rail rights-of-way while allowing public trail use.

Ben Braman, Perry County’s Director of Trails, framed the plan as both a public health and emergency management measure. “So we can provide very easy non-motorized accessibility for pedestrians, for health and wellness, and emergency access,” he said. Braman noted the corridor’s elevation makes it less vulnerable during floods. “Those rail line corridors do not flood. They’re high enough and they’re well built. So, it provides us the ability to access neighborhoods and get water and relief supplies back to people,” he said.

County leaders also emphasize recreation and economic potential. Desi Jarrell, Director of Waterways and Outdoor Programs for the Perry County Department of Outdoor Recreation, said the trail would expand everyday access to resources and encourage activity. “It will allow people to reach certain resources that they possibly couldn’t before, whether that be on foot or on bike and that in itself is going to turn into a health initiative,” Jarrell said. “People are going to become more active. Kids are going to have a place to go and recreate or walk to see their friends.”

Officials estimate construction costs for rail trails can range from about $700,000 to more than $1 million depending on scope, with annual maintenance roughly $500 per mile. County leaders say grant funding, including dollars tied to abandoned mine lands, could offset much of the cost and limit the financial burden on local taxpayers. Proposed uses for the corridor beyond walking and biking include kayaking operations, bike rentals, and youth cycling programs.

As negotiations begin, county officials say community input will be part of the planning process. Residents with questions or ideas are encouraged to contact the Perry County Department of Outdoor Recreation through its Facebook page. The next steps are formal talks with CSX and outreach to neighbors and stakeholders to shape trail design, funding priorities, and maintenance plans. If successful, the project would turn a long-unused set of tracks into a practical asset for hazard-prone neighborhoods and everyday life in Perry County.