The Northwest Georgia Regional Commission plans an economic impact analysis (EIA) of the Silver Comet Trail.

This quiet, non-motorized, paved trail is for walkers, hikers, bicyclists, rollerbladers, horses, dog walkers, and is wheelchair accessible. It is 61.5 miles long, crosses Cobb, Paulding, and Polk counties and ends at the Georgia/Alabama state line, west of Cedartown.

Officials announced that this study has been years in the making. It will finally come to fruition with the help of ALTA Design + Planning.

The purpose of this project is to identify the existing and future resources, opportunities and obstacles involved in the Silver Comet Trail.

The goal of this study is twofold: Phase One will gather demographic information of trail users and phase two is to locate possible connections points from the trail to other regions. The hope is that this study will serve as a regional model for other trails and how they positively impact the economy.

The study is scheduled to begin this month - January 2013 - and conclude with a presentation to the public, stakeholders, and government officials in July 2013.

Chair Jean Laltrello, Polk Tourism Committee, said this is good news. “It is very exciting to know that we will now have a resource to use when promoting the impact of tourism in our community.”

Paul Craighead, tourism committee member, Rockmart Civic Arts Commission, said the study would provide data if the group is seeking grant funds.

“It will provide accurate, detailed information to decision makers,” he said.

Laltrello will serve on a Silver Comet Trail stakeholder’s team that offers suggestions, comments, and input to ALTA + Design. The stakeholders will only meet two or three times during the six-month period.

The first meeting will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 16, in the Paulding Chamber of Commerce conference at 455 Jimmy Campbell Parkway in Dallas.

David Kenemer is NWGRC’s principal bike/pedestrian planner for this project.