Supreme Court deals setback to rails-to-trails movement (8-1)

[brett_jv]

1. I suppose this means that moving forward the Feds will have to keep a close eye on such sales ...

In order to ensure that their easements/RoW's are explicitly maintained across the process of selling land that previously had such rights carved out for them.

Then again, they likely don't really care, esp. if all that's to actually be 'maintained' is the right to build 'bike trails' on their easements. Not much 'in it' for the Feds, so ... I sadly would have to say that this decision likely spells 'The Beginning of The End' for the 'Rails to Trails' movement.

It's a worthy, great endeavor, but unfortunately ... well, I don't think I need to elaborate on how devastating this decision probably is for them. W/the right-of-ways no longer automatically conferred through the sale process, the people who would like to see the trails built on the lands have absolutely no recourse.

Personally, I'd much rather the Government NOT SELL any lands with RR right-of-ways across them. Given that Peak Oil is RIGHT NOW, we're very likely as a Nation going to be 'needing' such transportation resources in the not-too-distant future. Undermining a possible resurrection of our Rail system by selling off the lands upon which the tracks used to run across ... is a bad, bad idea, IMHO.