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X-WR-CALNAME:Gov. Holcomb Announces Indiana’s Longest Trail in State of t
 he State Address
X-WR-TIMEZONE:Indiana (East)
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260914T001457Z
UID:tag:localist.com\,2008:EventInstance_42095896792550
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20230110
DESCRIPTION:Monon South Trail to Cross Five Counties\, Eight Communities in
  Southern Indiana\n\nGov. Eric J. Holcomb announced tonight in his 2023 St
 ate of the State address that the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) wi
 ll award $29.5 million to acquire and begin development of the 62.3-mile M
 onon South Trail spanning five counties in Southern Indiana. Once fully co
 nstructed\, the trail will be the longest contiguous recreational trail in
  Indiana.\n\n“Indiana is continuing to blaze new trails in conservation 
 and outdoor recreation – and today\, we’re excited to announce we’re
  blazing our longest trail yet\, connecting communities across Southern In
 diana\,” said Gov. Holcomb. “The Monon South Trail will preserve a pie
 ce of our Hoosier history while promoting quality of place in our rural co
 mmunities.”\n\nThe Monon South Trail will follow the route of the histor
 ic Monon Railroad beginning in New Albany and running through the communit
 ies of Borden\, New Pekin\, Salem\, Campbellsburg\, Saltillo\, Orleans and
  Mitchell. This route includes portions of Floyd\, Clark\, Washington\, Or
 ange and Lawrence counties.\n\nAs part of the state’s Next Level Trails 
 initiative\, the DNR led acquisition negotiations with CSX Transportation 
 (CSXT)\, working in cooperation with New Albany and Radius Indiana. Next L
 evel Trails will fund the purchase of the corridor on behalf of New Albany
  and Radius Indiana for the combined sum of $5.5 million. New Albany will 
 own and manage the portion of the trail in Floyd County. Radius Indiana wi
 ll be responsible for the trail in Clark\, Washington\, Orange and Lawrenc
 e counties.\n\nTo jumpstart the trail’s development\, the DNR will grant
  the partners an additional $24 million in Next Level Trails funding to be
 gin design\, engineering and construction of portions of the trail.\n\nApp
 roximately 440\,000 people live within 10 miles of the trail’s path.\n\n
 “Across the region\, our community leaders see how quality of place tran
 slates to economic opportunity for our residents and our businesses\,” s
 aid Jeff Quyle\, president and CEO of Radius Indiana\, an economic develop
 ment partnership representing eight counties in Southwest Central Indiana.
  “Through the development of the Monon South Trail\, we are transforming
  the historic economic engine of rail into a future-focused economic engin
 e of a trail that will help us attract new talent and business to the stat
 e. We’re thankful for the state’s partnership and dedication to make t
 his happen for Southern Indiana.”\n\n“It continues to be an exciting t
 ime to live in New Albany. The new Monon South Trail brings fresh connecti
 ons to our river city and for our neighbors throughout the region\,” sai
 d New Albany Mayor Jeff Gahan. “When our state\, regional and local part
 ners join together\, great things can happen. We appreciate Governor Holco
 mb\, his staff\, and Radius Indiana for bringing this historic project hom
 e to Southern Indiana.”\n\nThe corridor follows a road survey commission
 ed by the Indiana Internal Improvements Act of 1836. In 1847\, the Indiana
  General Assembly authorized a private railroad to build upon the route\, 
 and Governor James Whitcomb signed a proclamation chartering the New Alban
 y and Salem Railroad. By 1854\, the railroad was complete from New Albany 
 to Michigan City. In 1956\, the railroad officially adopted the iconic Mon
 on Railroad name. \n\nCSXT\, a successor to the Monon Railroad\, last oper
 ated trains on this section of the line in 2008 and abandoned the rail lin
 e in 2018. Under a process known as railbanking\, New Albany and Radius pe
 titioned to negotiate with CSXT to acquire the out-of-service rail corrido
 r for use as a recreational trail.\n\nAs part of the governor’s Next Lev
 el Connections initiative\, Next Level Trails is the largest infusion of t
 rails funding in state history. The $150 million program is administered b
 y the DNR and enables much needed trail connections within and between Hoo
 sier communities.\n\nIn addition to the Monon South Trail\, Next Level Tra
 ils has awarded nearly $120 million in grants to 73 projects across the st
 ate. To date\, 15 projects are complete totaling 50 miles of new trail ope
 n to the public. As part of his 2023 Next Level Agenda\, the governor has 
 proposed an additional $50 million in the state budget to be directed to N
 ext Level Trails.\n\n“The Monon South Trail represents Indiana’s histo
 ry and our future\,” said DNR director Dan Bortner. “I’m thankful fo
 r our partners with the City of New Albany and Radius Indiana for helping 
 chart this path forward for these communities across Southern Indiana.” 
 \n\nView progress on other Next Level Trails projects at on.IN.gov/NextLev
 elTrails
LOCATION:
SUMMARY:Gov. Holcomb Announces Indiana’s Longest Trail in State of the St
 ate Address
URL;VALUE=URI:https://events.in.gov/event/gov_holcomb_announces_indianas_lo
 ngest_trail_in_state_of_the_state_address
CATEGORIES:Press Releases
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