The Union Pacific rail trestle over the Fox River in downtown St. Charles.
The Union Pacific Railroad currently owns and maintains a rail line that traverses the City of St. Charles from the east (DuPage Airport) to west (Randall Road). The line has served several establishments over the years, but closure or relocation of those businesses has prompted the railroad to consider abandoning portions of the line. If that occurs, the use of the corridor as a recreational amenity and utility right-of-way could provide significant benefits to the residents of St. Charles.
In 2003, the City of St. Charles and St. Charles Park District collaborated on the formation of a plan for development of bicycle and pedestrian facilities. The plan calls for a future trail on the Union Pacific right-of-way. The western terminus of the line is adjacent to the Great Western Trail Greenway, a limestone bicycle and pedestrian path that is owned and maintained by the Forest Preserve District of Kane County. The redevelopment of the rail spur as a bike and walking path would connect the existing Great Western Trail with downtown St. Charles and the Fox River bike trail, enhancing bicycle and pedestrian accessibility and providing additional transportation and recreational opportunities to residents throughout Kane County. Extending the bike trail to Tyler Road would facilitate a connection to the Illinois Prairie Path in Geneva via Kirk Road.
In 2008, representatives of Kane County, the Forest Preserve District, the St. Charles Park District, and the City of St. Charles began working cooperatively on acquiring the rail line for the purpose of implementing the 2003 bike/pedestrian plan. Recently, the City and Park District have endorsed the project and agreed to work together, with support from Kane County and the Forest Preserve District, to begin negotiations with the railroad to convert the rail line to alternative use as soon as possible.
At this time, the plan represents a concept that will require more time, effort, and resources to bring to fruition. The entities plan to work with external agencies, like the Rails To Trails Conservancy, to analyze, engineer, fund, and implement the trail.