This bill directs the Secretary of the Interior to complete a feasibility study on whether the Bay Area Ridge Trail should be designated as a national scenic trail. The bill describes the trail as a roughly 550-mile, nonmotorized, multi-use route that includes about 415 completed miles and about 140 miles still to be completed. It says the trail connects over 75 parks and open spaces, passes through marshes, grasslands, mountains, canyons, rivers, and forests, and links with other regional trails.
If enacted, the Interior Department would study the trail and report results to Congress within one year of the law taking effect. The study must be done in consultation with interested organizations (including the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council) and with each federal and state agency that manages lands the trail crosses. The bill itself does not change the trail's status; it only requires the feasibility study.
No publicly available information.
The bill's findings say the trail offers scenic ridgeline access near urban areas, supports outdoor recreation for a diverse population and visitors, and includes nationally significant scenic, historic, and cultural features. Sponsors and the bill text present the study as a step toward assessing whether national scenic trail designation is appropriate.
No publicly available information.