Senate Bill 174 Summary

• Authorizes the City of Wilmington and North Carolina Department of Transportation to enter into a lease agreement for the Department's interest in the former CSX Transportation rail corridor (Wilmington Downtown Lead, from 3rd Street to McRae Street) for interim public recreation use.

• City of Wilmington must examine title to the property, identify all persons owning an interest in the rail corridor, and ensure all interested parties are included as parties to the lease.

• City of Wilmington agrees in writing to assume all development costs, management, security, and liability responsibilities for the recreational trail use.

• Department of Transportation must determine that active rail service will not be needed in the leased corridor portion for at least 10 years, and the lease must include terms allowing resumption of rail use while preserving the corridor's perpetual railroad purposes.

• Recreational trail use cannot interfere with the ultimate transportation purposes of the corridor as determined by the Department of Transportation.