Monterey Trail Idea Falls Through

Monterey’s idea to expand the rail trail from Monterey to Algood has hit a stop sign.

Alderman Bill Wiggins said after receiving approval on the idea from the Nashville and Eastern Railway Authority the town did not hear back for several weeks. Wiggins said eventually the town received a notice that some of the people in the authority who work with logistics would visit and determine if the project was still possible.

“They reluctantly decided that there were too many safety issues and some logistical concerns about getting people back up the mountain who weren’t able or willing to ride their bike back up once they had gone down,” Wiggins said.

Wiggins said unfortunately there is nothing the town can do to go forward with the project. Wiggins said the town’s leadership was disappointed that the project was a no-go.

“That was a gut punch because we were all excited because those things and there are several across the country that are a major tourist draw,” Wiggins said. “We could just see people streaming into Monterey.”

Wiggins said with the project falling through the town could look into other tourist attraction ideas to bring people to Monterey.

“It could we will see,” Wiggins said. ” Our traps are set out there and we are here and willing to talk.”