This bill directs the Secretary of the Interior to complete a feasibility study on designating the Bay Area Ridge Trail as a national scenic trail and to submit the study to Congress within one year. The bill defines the Bay Area Ridge Trail as a roughly 550-mile, multi-use trail that runs along ridgelines around the San Francisco Bay Area, connects more than 75 parks and open spaces, and includes about 415 completed miles and about 140 miles not yet finished. The required 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 land the trail crosses.
If enacted, this law would not itself change trail management or land ownership. It would require a study and a report to Congress on whether the Bay Area Ridge Trail should be designated a national scenic trail. The study would consider lands and agencies already involved and would be completed within one year of the law taking effect.
No publicly available information on estimated expenses or funding. The bill sets a one-year deadline for the study but does not specify funding levels or sources.
The bill text lists findings that describe the trail as a scenic, nonmotorized, multi-use route that provides access to ridgelines, connects many parks and open spaces, passes diverse environments (marsh, grassland, mountains, canyons, rivers, forests), and offers recreational opportunities to a large and diverse population. It notes the trail’s links to features such as the Pacific Ocean, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and other connector trails.
No publicly available information.