Jay Lagree, an avid cyclist, used to ride his bike from his home in Rehoboth Beach, south along Del. 1 to Bethany and then north again.

 

　　But these days, he's shifted his daily ride to the network of trails that link Rehoboth and Lewes.

 

　　"I used to ride Route 1," he said. "But it's more dangerous than it needs to be."

 

　　Lagree is among the growing number of resort-area residents who use the Breakwater Junction Trail as a link between the two coastal towns.

 

　　And Thursday, he came out to look at plans for a 1.5 mile long trail expansion – one that could ultimately grow to 18 miles and link Lewes to Georgetown – along state-owned railroad right-of-way.

 

　　That longer east-west trail is just a dream at the moment but state officials on Thursday outlined drawings for Phase I – the small section from Gills Neck Road to Savannah Road in Lewes. That phase, expected to cost $1.5 million, would include a trail head with restrooms and 30-car parking lot near the proposed new Lewes Library. Eventually, it would provide a second connection with the Breakwater Junction Trail through the proposed Showfield residential housing development.

 

　　Maps of the proposed plan were on displayed at the Lewes Library and state transportation officials and their consultants were available to answer questions for the dozens of people who came out to see where the trail would go and how it would look.

 

　　"Over all, I think it's a very good plan," said Lewes Mayor-elect Theodore Becker. "It provides good access and the rails with trails concept is widely used throughout the country."

 

　　The state owns the rail line from Lewes to Georgetown – a large right-of-way that includes the train tracks and roadbed along with green space on both sides. The plan, said Marco Boyce, a planning supervisor with the state Department of Transportation, is to carve out a paved, 10-foot wide trail along the open area near the tracks.

 

　　There is still train traffic on the rail line but it is infrequent and slow-moving, he said.

 

　　On average, three rail cars pass through Lewes once a week, at a speed of about 5 miles per hour, he said. The entire right-of-way is 66 feet, with plenty of room for a 10-foot-wide trail.

 

　　State officials envision the trail being used by people running errands, shopping and looking for an alternative to driving their vehicles, Boyce said. The trail will only be open to pedestrians and non-motorized vehicles such as bikes.

 

　　The plans on display Thursday were a first step. Public comments will be considered and final plans will be drawn starting in the fall. Meanwhile, state officials are looking for a funding source for the project. It is unlikely that construction would start prior to 2016.

 

　　Meanwhile, several of the people who came out to view the plans, live along the second phase of the trail. Many still have questions about access to the trail. In addition, some are concerned about security and screening.

 

　　But Thursday, many of them, like Nassau Gardens resident Tom Olkowski, joked that they'd be in assisted living before the trail expanded in to their neighborhood.

 

　　"A number of area residents have concerns and others are in favor of it," he said.