The Oyster Trail | Talbot Thrive

Oxford Parks Connector Trail

First Steps

In late 2023, the Town of Oxford was approved for a Kim Lamphier Bikeways Grant for the initial feasibility and design of the first step of the proposed Oyster Trail – the Oxford Parks Connector Trail.

The grant is for a proposed shared-use recreational trail that will connect two parks in the Town of Oxford, MD with two adjacent County-owned parks. The project also includes study of installation of a bicycle service area. Ultimately, this project lays the foundation for creating an off-road route for people and families who ride bikes to enjoy the outdoors, especially the existing Oxford Conservation Park, and also supports the establishment of Oxford, MD as a terminus point in the future vision for a bicycle/pedestrian rail trail that connects Oxford to the Town of Easton. In alignment with our Comprehensive Plan and our Sustainable Community Plan, the Town of Oxford has been working with Talbot Thrive to improve the connectivity of our town parks and the County’s Oxford Conservation Park by developing a safe, accessible multi-use trail.

Who Was Kim Lamphier?

Kim Lamphier was a tireless supporter for safe, bicycle access across Maryland.

Over the years, Kim worked on issues relating to small businesses, bicycle safety, wildlife protection, criminal justice reform and promoting youth participation in government. She worked on the campaigns of some of Maryland’s luminary political figures at all levels of government. In her last year, 2019, in her roles with Trash Free Maryland and Bike Maryland, she was the principal advocate for two major legislative victories – the first statewide Styrofoam ban in the country and a bill that guarantees funding for Maryland’s Bikeways Network program. She worked to secure these victories, even as she was recovering from three months of intensive chemotherapy treatment and post-surgery physical therapy. She was an indomitable force.

In 2020, the Maryland General Assembly voted to rename the MDOT Bikeways Program in Kim’s honor.

The Dream: A Trail from Oxford to Easton – The Oyster Trail

Imagine converting the old Maryland and Delaware rail easement from Easton into Oxford into a pedestrian and bike trail? A recent exploration by a board member has found that the route is partially visible in several places along Oxford Road and has been partially maintained by private property owners since the closing of the rail line in 1996. A linear park/trail could serve to connect commercial, historic and cultural amenities along a shared use path accommodating walkers, joggers and bicyclists of all ages and fitness levels.

Completed following the Civil War, the Oxford Spur was a key piece of infrastructure that led to prosperity in the Eastern Shore Tidewater region. The 66’ wide easement was abandoned in the mid 1960’s and the land deeded to the adjacent property owners. The challenge will be to find a way to reclaim access to a portion of the old easement and preliminary research has indicated that this will be difficult, but is not insurmountable. The Rails to Trails Conservancy in Washington DC has been very helpful to many other groups that have successfully completed similar projects in other locations. There are over 2,000 examples of successful rail to trail projects in all 50 states, so there are many good precedents to follow. The recently passed Infrastructure Bill contains substantial funding for active transportation projects such as this.

Imagine, in the near future it will be possible to ride the entire 8 mile route from Oxford to Easton on a safe and beautiful wooded greenway that would help support local business and attract pedestrians and cyclists to a healthy and safe amenity for both visitors and local Talbot County residents.

Thank you to Board Member Cameron J. Mactavish of Oxford MD

The Dream…

CONVERT THE HISTORIC OXFORD RAILWAY TO A PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE TRAIL
Even though the last train ran prior to 1960, many portions of the old Oxford and Easton railway still exist and are passable on foot to this day.

HEALTH AND SAFETY FOR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS
A dedicated pedestrian and bicycle path will enhance health and safety for Talbot County residents and visitors by getting them off the shoulder
of the increasingly busy Oxford Road

BOOM FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES
Increased pedestrian and bicycle traffic will better enable local businesses to thrive year round. Over 2000 rail to projects have been completed in all 50 states and the positive economic impact of rail to trail projects is well documented

CONNECT TO POTENTIAL ST. MICHAEL’S RD BIKE PATH
Converting this section and creating a link to the Easton bike trail will create a 25 mile “Oyster Loop” connecting Oxford, Easton, and St Michael’s and extending all the way to McDaniel. The Oxford Ferry can then be used to complete the loop

Frequently Asked Questions

Won't having a trail hurt my property value?

Studies done after trails have been operational for a number of years, consistently reported that they (trails) were better neighbors than skeptics expected. When evaluated against the status quo benchmark, some perceive a retrofitted trail as a liability that is likely to reduce their quality of life. However, over time two scenarios are likely to emerge that cause negativism to dissipate. First, experience with it reassures proximate residents that their fears were groundless or overstated. Second, since proximity to a trail is relatively scarce in many urban communities, those who view it as a desirable amenity are likely to pay a premium for properties when they are offered for sale. (Compton, 2019)

Articles & Studies

How can a shared use trail function safely within an active agricultural area?

Trails and active agriculture areas can and do exist in harmony, as demonstrated by examples from across the United States, including a wide range of use levels, trail surfaces, and management policies. The following strategies have been essential to the success of trails in agricultural areas:

Natural and physical fencing to clearly delineate trail and agricultural areas and provide barriers
Farmers given the ability to place notifications on the trail when agricultural operations would otherwise be limited by or hazardous to trail users
Controlled crossings that allow farm equipment to reach both sides of the trail, where necessary
Signage to alert trail users to the presence of active agricultural operations and instructing users to stay on the trail (since the trail will continue to be owned by the state, landowners whose property abuts the trail are not liable for the activities of those who leave the state's property and trespass onto privately-owned land)
Creating advocacy groups or clubs to ensure maintenance and observation of the trail to minimize vandalism and encourage a self-policing environment.

Articles:

Won't a trail bring crime and homeless people to my property?

Numerous studies have shown that the development of rail-to-trail projects do not bring with them an increase in crime. The National Rails to Trails Coalition studied the impact of three major rail-trail projects in 1996 and found that the incidence of crimes on trails was very low compared to overall crime rates. Their study of rural trails concluded:

There are an estimated 26 million annual users on the 254 surveyed rural trails cover ing 5,282 miles.
The national rate of mugging in rural areas is 19 per 100,000 inhabitants; none of the rural rail trails reported muggings in 1995 and only one reported an incident in 1996
The national rural rate of aggravated assault is 203 incidents per 100,000 persons; only three rural rail trails reported three assaults in 1995 and the same number in 1996
Nationally, there were 26 forcible rapes per 100,000 rural inhabitants; two rural rail-trails reported rapes in 1995 and one trail reported a rape in 1996
The national murder rate for rural areas is 5 per 100,000; none of the rural rail trails reported a murder over the two year period

Articles & Studies

How can hunting activities safely coexist with a shared use trail nearby?

There are more than 22,000 miles of rail-trails across the US, and as you can imagine, many of them traverse rural areas where hunting is an important part of the community. Trail managers (some might be state or national forest superintendents) have provided different solutions to conflicts that may arise on trails due to hunting. In fact, historic evidence of trail and hunting compatibility is deep rooted in single-track hiking trails like the Appalachian Trail. One of the oldest rail-trails in the nation, the 20-mile Stony Creek Railroad Grade in Dauphin County, PA, traverses through 40,000+ acres of state game lands and has been in operation since 1943 with no known injuries.

Some examples of other rail trails that have been established adjacent to or through public and private game lands and private hunting lands and have successfully accommodated trail users and hunters.

Articles

Clarion, PA – Little Toby Creek Rail-Trail and the West Penn Rail-Trail (The Clarion-Little Toby Creek Trail and the West Penn Trail require that trail users to wear blaze orange during hunting season.)
Springvalley Wildlife Area (Xenia, OH) A multiuse bike trail runs along one of the heaviest hunted marshes in the state. Karen Kelley, director of the Marion County Park District, recognizes the importance of the trail in preserving the wildlife habitat, saying, “Our park district is going to try to showcase via the railtrail the marshes and tallgrass prairies in season to support those efforts to preserve and maintain wildlife habitat.”
No-hunting Buffer: Some trails that bisect public and private hunting lands enforce a “no-hunting buffer” (Amherst, MA) Carrying loaded firearms is prohibited within 150 ft. of the trail, which corresponds to Massachusetts state law regarding hunting near paved roads. However, hunters often use the rail-trail to get to and from hunting locations.
Genesee Valley Greenway
(Western New York) On this 90-mile multiuse trail, hunters are allowed to use the trail to access hunting locations, but may not shoot from or across the trail. The trail isn’t closed during hunting season, and one of the adjacent landowners is a hunting club.
A Summary of Maryland's Hunting Regulations
The Complete Guide to Hunting and Fishing in Maryland states:
- It is illegal to target shoot on state lands except in designated areas. (Rail Trails are State Lands)
- It is illegal to hunt, shoot or trap wildlife within 150 yards of any building or camp occupied by human beings without permission of the owner or occupant.

My property is next to the rail corridor. How can I benefit from the rail trail and how will the trail provide economic development to this area?

How landowners along the rail corridor benefit from the rail trail through business opportunities is up to them and their entrepreneurship. Talbot County Economic Development officials will be actively working with those who express an interest in a business venture to maximize that opportunity and their success. Also, county planning and zoning officials are committed to ensuring the right zoning is in place along the rail corridor to support any business proposals that arise. Agritourism and trails in general can be a major economic driver for the entire area, especially with the uptick in visitors expected from the Frederick Douglass Park on the Tuckahoe River.

Articles & Studies

"Repurposing old railroad right of ways into vibrant trail systems requires planning, community engagement, collaborative partnerships, and innovative best practices combined with a focus on equity and inclusion. The results are rail-to-trail systems that offer a variety of affordable housing options, promote economic and transportation opportunities, and enhance the quality of life for all residents."

The photos below are from a recent excursion finding the old rail bed along the Oxford Corridor. Please do not tresspass on private property.