Saluda Grade Trail gets big boost from newly-passed N.C. budget
A new rail trail along the route of the historic Saluda Grade railroad received significant funding in the newly-passed North Carolina state budget...
A new rail trail along the route of the historic Saluda Grade railroad received significant funding in the newly-passed North Carolina state budget, which included $12 million over two years to purchase the portion of the rail corridor in North Carolina. According to a news release from Conserving Carolina, this is in addition to the $15 million appropriated in South Carolina to purchase the rail corridor in that state. The budget says that the purpose of the funding is 'to take advantage of an unprecedented opportunity for the citizens of North Carolina to celebrate 2023 as the Year of the Trail and enhance the reputation of North Carolina as the Great Trails State by acquiring the Saluda Grade rail corridor for conversion into the Saluda Grade Trail,' the news release said.