What's Happening in Catonsville, MD…

Catonsville is getting set to start its next part of the Rails to Trails program, in the form of a project called Bloomsbury Crossing, which will connect the Short Line Trail with Bloomsbury Avenue.

The connection will be in the form of a ramp, since the path is about 25 feet lower than the street.

Last year, Catonsville expanded its Short Line Railroad Trail as part of Rails to Trails, which is a national effort to make abandoned railroad lines into trails for hikers and bikers to enjoy.

Joe Shryock, who is on the board of the local Rails to Trails organization, said a challenge in building this latest ramp is in making sure it meets the standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which means it cannot be overly steep.

The Bloomsbury Crossing would do more than make a pleasant trail even more enjoyable for bikers and hikers who want to avoid the roads; it would also give those Catonsville Elementary School students who walk to school a safe route to follow. There is no bus service provided for those who live a mile or less from the school.

County planners are coming up with a design for the crossing, which should be finished before the end of the coming summer.

Projects like this can benefit if managers work with a flyer printing company to create a mailer for residents, keeping them updated on progress.