Landowners Along Ecusta Trail Win $5M Claim Against Federal Government

Asheville -- In a landmark decision, 164 landowners along the proposed Ecusta Trail have been awarded over $5 million

in compensation from the federal government. This ruling follows years of litigation surrounding the conversion of a former railroad corridor into a multiuse greenway. 

According to a press release from the law firm Lewis Rice, the federal Surface Transportation Board issued a notice of interim trail use on June 28, 2021. This notice permitted the transformation of the Blue Ridge Southern Railroad corridor into the Ecusta Trail. However, this decision led to a prolonged legal battle as property owners contested that the trail would infringe upon their lands. The recent court ruling requires the federal government to compensate the affected landowners, with individual awards ranging from $223 to $191,061. 

The varying compensation amounts reflect the different extents to which the trail impacts individual properties. The plaintiffs, residents of both Henderson and Transylvania counties, successfully argued that sections of the trail crossed onto their private properties. The Ecusta Trail, a planned 19.4-mile greenway, will connect Hendersonville and Brevard. Scheduled for completion in 2028, the trail aims to provide a scenic route for biking and hiking enthusiasts while repurposing an unused railway corridor.

Despite the legal challenges, the project continues to move forward, promising recreational and economic benefits for the region. This ruling highlights the complexities of balancing public projects with private property rights.

WNCTimes