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Project Details
Transportation & Government Services
Flight Line (east Dayton Rails-to-Trails) Phase 1
The Flight Line will be a multipurpose trail that completes a gap in the Miami Valley’s regional trail network connecting Downtown Dayton to 300+ miles of recreational and alternative transportation opportunities. Funding will support design, construction, and bridge repair/replacement for the east Dayton corridor, for the Phase 1 segment. Transforming the blighted rail line into a vibrant community asset will help stabilize neighborhoods while establishing a regional attraction.
Organization Details
City of Dayton
101 West Third Street
Dayton, Ohio. 45402
Montgomery
Same
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Government
Organization Contact Details
Tony Kroeger
Planning Division Manager
City of Dayton
937-333-3673
101 West Third Street
Dayton, Ohio. 45402
Montgomery
--Shelley Dickstein, City of Dayton City Manager, shelley.disckstein@daytonohio.gov, 937.333.3606
--Todd Kinskey, City of Dayton Planning and Community Development Director, ----todd.kinskey@daytonohio.gov, 937.333.4209
--Joe Weinel, City of Dayton Senior Engineer, joe.weinel@daytonohio.gov, 937.333.4218
Location Details
Dayton
Montgomery
Ohio 10th
Financial Details
1100900
6500000
The City of Dayton submitted a successful transportation budget reauthorization funding request to Congressman Turner in 2021. The cities of Dayton and Kettering will complete acquisition of the entire 6.5 mile Norfolk Southern out-of-service rail corridor with those funds. The Flight Line is a strong candidate for the Clean Ohio Trails Fund grant that offers $500,000 that may also be used for acquisition. In addition, the path of the trail runs through several Community Development Block Grant eligible areas and will be submitted for consideration for an allocation through the City of Dayton’s program as needed. Construction will be broken into three or four phases; all of which will be strong candidates for both Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality and Transportation Alternative funding. In addition, smaller grants – such as the $15,000 award received from Rails to Trails – will help fund aesthetic improvements, signage, and pedestrian amenities.
Construction or Capital
Yes
In 2021, the City of Dayton submitted a transportation budget reauthorization funding request to Congressman Turner in 2021 for the acquisition of the rail corridor. The success of that request is catalyzing the City of Dayton and the City of Kettering’s ability to move forward with construction plans for regional trail connections, including the east-west running Flight Line. The City of Dayton is ready to evaluate the project for a Community Development Block Grant allocation once the federal infrastructure bill is finalized and additional funding opportunities are understood. Upon completing acquisition negotiations with Norfolk Southern, expected to conclude in early to mid-2022, the City of Dayton will be ready to begin detailed design and construction work for the Flight Line, which matches the timeline for State Capital allocations.
Yes
Within the next 6-12 months
The State of Ohio Clean Ohio Trails Fund provides grant money for construction of recreational trails. Funding allocations are capped at $500,000 per application and require a 25 percent local match. If not utilized for acquisition, this funding source will be utilized for construction costs. The federal Congestion Mitigation/ Air Quality (CMAQ) as well as the Transportation Alternative (TA) funding sources through MVRPC will be sought for future construction. The CMAQ program provides a flexible funding source to State and local governments for transportation projects and programs to help meet the requirements of the Clean Air Act. The TA program provides funding for projects defined as transportation alternatives, including on and off road pedestrian and bicycle facilities. Private grants will also be part of the funding plan including sponsorships and foundation grants.
Community Details
The Flight Line will transform a blighted rail line into an asset within the historic Dayton neighborhoods of Huffman, St. Anne’s Hill, and Linden Heights, while establishing a regional attraction. The northern Flight Line will drive economic development by improving access to regional business and employment centers and by providing a new alternative transit route for thousands of Dayton-region employees. The project completes essential recreation connections for all Miami Valley trail users and supports our region’s reputation as the home of the largest paved trail network. 

We envision a trail that:
- Improves mobility and increases quality of life
- Removes a blighted and abandoned rail corridor
- Stabilizes property values and supports redevelopment activity
- Creates a new recreational amenity and alternative transportation option
- Improves health and wellness
The City of Dayton submitted a successful transportation budget reauthorization funding request in the amount of $2,000,000 to Congressman Turner in 2021. This funding will support the acquisition of the entire 6.5 miles of abandoned Norfolk Southern rail corridor that connects both Dayton and Kettering to the Miami Valley region’s 300+ miles of recreational and alternative transportation opportunities.
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Additional Details
No
Tony Kroeger
937-333-3673
tony.kroeger@daytonohio.gov
Yes
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