The city of Cookeville is exploring ways to connect the Rail Trail from the Cookeville Depot to Cane Creek Park.
Cookeville City Councilman Chuck Womack said the project would be separated into two parts. First, building a trail from West End Park to Cane Creek. Then, extending the trail from West End to the depot.
“This is an exciting time,” Womack said. “We originally started the Rail Trail in 2005, and it was in 2016 or 2017 before we completed the first 4.3 miles. This is approximately a two mile stretch.”
Womack said the biggest challenge is finding ways to cross Willow Avenue and Spring Street. The city is considering adding a flashing pedestrian light and crosswalk for Willow. Then, the trail would follow Broad St. and cross Spring St. at West End St.
“The main reason it is a wide street (Willow) and keeping people walking and bicycling away from automobile traffic is what costs money,” Womack said. “If you build a bridge that is very expensive, so you have to go down to the ground level.”
Womack said the city will apply for a T-DOT grant that would pay for 80 percent of the project. Cookeville would be responsible for the other 20 percent and planning. Womack said the grant is competitive.
RJ Corman Railroad Group owns the railway. Womack said the city would have to create preliminary engineering plans and submit them for approval to the company to move forward.
