Sherman-Williamsville Trail
Encyclopedia
The Sherman-Williamsville Trail is a 4.5 miles (7.2 km) right-of-way that has been set aside for future use as a rail trail
from Sherman, Illinois
to Williamsville, Illinois
in Fancy Creek Township
and Williams Township
in northern Sangamon County
.
The right-of-way occupies part of what was once an electric interurban
line operated by the Illinois Terminal Railroad
(ITR) from 1906 until 1956. The right-of-way, which generally parallels Interstate 55
, has passed into the hands of the electrical utility holding company Ameren
, the current owner, and is used as a high-tension power corridor.
Construction and operation of the proposed rail trail will be carried out by the village of Williamsville.
remains in place underneath the land surface of the overgrown right-of-way.
As of 2011, the Sherman and Williamsville municipalities are among the fastest-growing areas in Central Illinois by population. The total cost of the Sherman-Williamsville trail project was estimated in December 2010 at $2.38 million.
On 27 May 2011, Williamsville announced that engineering and design work, to be carried out under the December 2010 grant, would start in summer 2011.
Rail trail
A rail trail is the conversion of a disused railway easement into a multi-use path, typically for walking, cycling and sometimes horse riding. The characteristics of former tracks—flat, long, frequently running through historical areas—are appealing for various development. The term sometimes also...
from Sherman, Illinois
Sherman, Illinois
Sherman is a village in Sangamon County, Illinois, United States. The population was 2,871 at the 2000 census, and 3,873 at a 2009 estimate. It is part of the Springfield, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Sherman is located at ....
to Williamsville, Illinois
Williamsville, Illinois
Williamsville is a village in Sangamon County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,439 at the 2000 census, and 1,387 at a 2009 estimate...
in Fancy Creek Township
Fancy Creek Township, Sangamon County, Illinois
Fancy Creek Township is located in Sangamon County, Illinois. The population was 4,145 at the 2000 census. Fancy Creek Township changed its name from Power Township on September 11, 1861.- External links :***...
and Williams Township
Williams Township, Sangamon County, Illinois
Williams Township is located in Sangamon County, Illinois. The population was 3,310 at the 2000 census.- External links :***...
in northern Sangamon County
Sangamon County, Illinois
Sangamon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 197,465, which is an increase of 4.5% from 188,951 in 2000...
.
The right-of-way occupies part of what was once an electric interurban
Interurban
An interurban, also called a radial railway in parts of Canada, is a type of electric passenger railroad; in short a hybrid between tram and train. Interurbans enjoyed widespread popularity in the first three decades of the twentieth century in North America. Until the early 1920s, most roads were...
line operated by the Illinois Terminal Railroad
Illinois Terminal Railroad
The Illinois Terminal Railroad, known as the Illinois Traction System until 1937, was a heavy duty interurban electric railroad with extensive passenger and freight business in central and southern Illinois from 1896 to 1982...
(ITR) from 1906 until 1956. The right-of-way, which generally parallels Interstate 55
Interstate 55 in Illinois
In the U.S. state of Illinois, Interstate 55 is a major north–south Interstate Highway that connects the St. Louis, Missouri and Chicago metropolitan areas. It runs from the Poplar Street Bridge in East St. Louis to U.S. Route 41 near downtown Chicago...
, has passed into the hands of the electrical utility holding company Ameren
Ameren
Ameren Corporation was created December 31, 1997 by the merger of Missouri's Union Electric Company and the neighboring Central Illinois Public Service Company . It is now a holding company for several power companies and energy companies. The company is based in St...
, the current owner, and is used as a high-tension power corridor.
Construction and operation of the proposed rail trail will be carried out by the village of Williamsville.
Current events
On 6 December 2010, the Sherman-Williamsville rail-trail project received a $269,000 state/federal grant for engineering planning purposes. The money will be used to survey the route and do test borings to determine if the ITR's railroad ballastTrack ballast
Track ballast forms the trackbed upon which railway sleepers or railroad ties are laid. It is packed between, below, and around the ties. It is used to facilitate drainage of water, to distribute the load from the railroad ties, and also to keep down vegetation that might interfere with the track...
remains in place underneath the land surface of the overgrown right-of-way.
As of 2011, the Sherman and Williamsville municipalities are among the fastest-growing areas in Central Illinois by population. The total cost of the Sherman-Williamsville trail project was estimated in December 2010 at $2.38 million.
On 27 May 2011, Williamsville announced that engineering and design work, to be carried out under the December 2010 grant, would start in summer 2011.