A group that had been fighting to save rails along the Knox-Kane Corridor has a new focus: maintenance of the railless trail.

In 2015, Mount Jewett to Kinzua Bridge (MJ2KB) Trail Club advocated to save rails that were slated for removal on a rails-to-trails project between Mount Jewett and Kinzua Bridge State Park.

At that time, the club had proposed installing light rail maintenance cars and building a pedestrian trail next to the tracks. It aimed to purchase the corridor and rails, but it was unable to come up with $430,000 to purchase the 3.9-mile section of corridor. Headwaters Charitable Trust purchased the land, and a previous plan to create a railless trail was put into motion.

The rails are gone and a trail is under construction.

According to club president Carolyn Stroup, the change in focus is bringing the group back to its original goal.

“We originally formed a ‘trail group’ to be a part of the planning and maintenance of the section of the Knox Kane corridor from Mount Jewett to the Kinzua Bridge State Park,” she said. “I am an equestrian and have ridden sections of this trail for many years, and wanted to be involved in its creation.

“After several meetings, the group’s focus became saving the rails when we realized the uniqueness of running speeders, railbikes or a trolley over the rails between Mount Jewett and the (Kinzua Bridge State Park),” said Stroup, explaining that club members saw their vision as an economic boost to the area.

Despite the club’s roots, Stroup said changing focus was not an easy decision for the group.

“Not everyone in the club was in favor of commiting to maintenance of this section of trail, but the majority of the club members voted to be involved with the maintenance at our February meeting,” she said.

The loss of the rails was a disappointment for the group; however, for Stroup, she sees the continued support of the trail as a benefit to the community.

“This is a local trail, right in our backyards,” she said. “I want to see more people involved, because it is a beautiful trail. We have a lot of trail users in our county, and they deserve to have a well maintained trail.”

At this point, the MJ2KB portion is nearly completed, with the exception of top coat material, said Stroup. She said the trail will have crushed limestone surface material.

“There are a few pavilion structures built, culverts replaced and railing along the trail is done in elevated sections,” she noted.

Planning Commission director Jeremy Morey told Stroup that the contractor is scheduled to resume work on the trail in June.

The completion deadline is in September, she said, but she believes it will be finished sooner. The club plans to hold a ribbon cutting ceremony in Mount Jewett once its done.

Once finished, Stroup said the trail “should be very easy to travel on for all types of users. This is a railroad bed, so there will not be any difficult inclines or slopes.”

Stroup was told that the trail will accommodate hikers, bicyclists, skiers, equestrians and, in the winter, snowmobiles. All-terrain vehicles will not be allowed, she said.

Stroup noted the roughly four-mile Mount Jewett to Kinzua Bridge portion of the trail is only part of the 73-mile Knox-Kane Rail Trail, and multiple trail groups and municipalities are involved in the trail’s development.

“These groups will have some say about what type of users can travel their sections of the corridor,” she said.

The main project for the MJ2KB will be just maintaining the leg of the trail from Mount Jewett to Kinzua Bridge, though Stroup indicated there is the possibility for other projects.

“There is a possibility we can develop ‘loop’ trails or more rugged trails (for mountain biking) near the existing trail,” she said.

Also, she said, “Our group may take on stewardship of the section of the Knox Kane Corridor from Mount Jewett to Lantz Corners, if the majority of the club is in favor of that. That section would need to be developed, and funding could be an issue, unless we can get grant money to develop it.”

The club is discussing the possibility of building a rest area for pack and saddle users on Kinzua Bridge State Park property, as there currently is no place to tie horses or pack animals on the trail.

Next week, Stroup will learn more about the rest area project when she meet with the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and Janie French, executive director of Headwaters Charitable Trust.

She said it is likely the club will look for grant money for the rest area, and the club would build it.

“I want to see a rest area for pack and saddle users; maybe a ‘tie post’ and a picnic table or two. This would keep equestrians from traveling into the bicycle/snowmobile parking area in the state park,” she added.

For anyone looking to show support for the club, donations and helping hands are welcome.

Stroup noted the group is still paying off debts from its time advocating for saving the rails. Also, she wants to see more volunteers step forward to help with trails efforts, in particular from people in Mount Jewett.

She explained, “This trail goes right through Mount Jewett, and we’d like to see the MJ Borough Council take more interest in promoting the trail and developing their town around it — it will be amazing the amount of tourists this (Knox Kane) Rail Trail can bring to this area.”