The solution seemed almost elegant in its simplicity: What to do with thousands of miles of unwanted, unused railroad tracks? Turn them into recreational trails for biking and hiking, with the caveat that if ever needed in the future, they'd be returned to the railroads.

Best of all, the Congressional Budget Office said it wouldn't cost the federal government a thing. With minimal debate, Congress in 1983 passed a three-sentence amendment that created the Rails-to-Trails program.

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