MONROE - A survey will be conducted over the next few weeks to see if the Cheese Country Trail can co-exist with the Wisconsin & Southern Railroad line.
The Monroe Visitor and Promotion Board voted unanimously to help pay for a portion of the study, which is expected to cost between $3,000 and $4,000.
Green County ATV Club President Bob Voegeli said the Tri-County Trails Commission will pay for half of the study's cost. He said the group made its decision at its December meeting in Darlington.
Fehr-Graham and Associates, Monroe, will conduct the study.
Wisconsin & Southern Railroad wants to convert 4.5 miles of the trail from Monroe to Ullom Road back into use by the railroad.
Ryan Wilson of Fehr-Graham said the study will determine if the 4.5 miles of the trail could be relocated so it could share the rail corridor.
Wilson said the study will also look at an alternative for the trail, which could include using private land near the trail.
"We can be proactive or we can be reactive," Wilson said, to the committee. "If we're proactive we would lose the ATV riders. If we wait, we use the trail until we find an alternative."
Mayor Ron Marsh said he was concerned that the loss of the trail would have a negative impact on Monroe's tourism economy.
"Losing the trail will have an economic impact on the city," he said.
The railroad plans to file an application with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (DOT) in February to request financial assistance with the conversion back to rail use. The application will be considered by July 1.
Wisconsin & Southern wants to convert the trail back to a rail line because a business has approached William Gardener, the railroad's president, about building in the area and would need a rail corridor for its products.
No information about the business has been offered.
In July, the Pecatonica Rail Transit Commission voted to allow the railroad to take back 4.5 miles of the trail from Badger State Ethanol to Ullom Road.
When the railroad gave up the line from Monroe to Mineral Point, which became the Cheese Country Trail, in the late 1980s, it was with the understanding it would get the trail back if it ever expanded rail service. In 2000, the railroad and the Pecatonica Rail Transit Commission signed a contract to that effect.
A portion of the contract states the railroad has to give the Tri-County Trails Commission, which oversees the Cheese Country Trail, six months notification of its plan to take back part of the trail.
At the October transit commission meeting, Gardener said he wanted to work with people to preserve the trail and make it possible for railroad and trail supporters to use the trail.
Until the DOT makes its decision about helping the railroad fund the conversion, ATV riders and snowmobile riders can continue to use the trail.
The Monroe Visitor and Promotion Board voted unanimously to help pay for a portion of the study, which is expected to cost between $3,000 and $4,000.
Green County ATV Club President Bob Voegeli said the Tri-County Trails Commission will pay for half of the study's cost. He said the group made its decision at its December meeting in Darlington.
Fehr-Graham and Associates, Monroe, will conduct the study.
Wisconsin & Southern Railroad wants to convert 4.5 miles of the trail from Monroe to Ullom Road back into use by the railroad.
Ryan Wilson of Fehr-Graham said the study will determine if the 4.5 miles of the trail could be relocated so it could share the rail corridor.
Wilson said the study will also look at an alternative for the trail, which could include using private land near the trail.
"We can be proactive or we can be reactive," Wilson said, to the committee. "If we're proactive we would lose the ATV riders. If we wait, we use the trail until we find an alternative."
Mayor Ron Marsh said he was concerned that the loss of the trail would have a negative impact on Monroe's tourism economy.
"Losing the trail will have an economic impact on the city," he said.
The railroad plans to file an application with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (DOT) in February to request financial assistance with the conversion back to rail use. The application will be considered by July 1.
Wisconsin & Southern wants to convert the trail back to a rail line because a business has approached William Gardener, the railroad's president, about building in the area and would need a rail corridor for its products.
No information about the business has been offered.
In July, the Pecatonica Rail Transit Commission voted to allow the railroad to take back 4.5 miles of the trail from Badger State Ethanol to Ullom Road.
When the railroad gave up the line from Monroe to Mineral Point, which became the Cheese Country Trail, in the late 1980s, it was with the understanding it would get the trail back if it ever expanded rail service. In 2000, the railroad and the Pecatonica Rail Transit Commission signed a contract to that effect.
A portion of the contract states the railroad has to give the Tri-County Trails Commission, which oversees the Cheese Country Trail, six months notification of its plan to take back part of the trail.
At the October transit commission meeting, Gardener said he wanted to work with people to preserve the trail and make it possible for railroad and trail supporters to use the trail.
Until the DOT makes its decision about helping the railroad fund the conversion, ATV riders and snowmobile riders can continue to use the trail.