According to a study released by the Atlanta Regional Commission, the Northwest Regional Commission, and the Georgia DOT, conducted by ALTA Planning and Design and Ecoconsult solutions: the existing Silver Comet Trail generates $100 million a year, directly supports 750 jobs, indirectly creates at least 550 more jobs. Those jobs earn a combined $37 million a year. The study also confirmed that real estate values close to the trail are 4% to 7% higher than the surrounding area on average and sometimes as high as 10% higher. This isn’t surprising when one looks at all the development right along the trail in Smyrna, GA.
The study results can be found at Bike Walk Northwest Georgia, and this includes the Executive summary, and Economic Impact Study. The full study PDF is available here.