Forging a Trail Network for the East Coast: the Role of Trains and Roadways, by Eric Weis
A Quick Swing Around the Region, by Craig della Penna
John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor
Making the Interstate Connection along the Blackstone River Bikeway, by Mark Jewell
Forging a Trail Network for the East Coast:
the Role of Trains and Roadways
Submitted by Eric Weis, Assistant Director, East Coast Greenway Alliance
(401) 789-4625
Railroad barons acquired the corridors, and Detroit made them nearly obsolete. And while most of the 300,000 miles of railroad right-of-way that once cris-crossed the U.S. no longer bear ties and tracks, those corridors still exist, allowing trail advocates to make them relevant again – for transportation, recreation and tourism. And the interconnectedness of the corridors, which allowed them to be a vital transportation network, now allows for trail networks to arise.
The East Coast Greenway is one such network. A trail from Calais, Maine to Key West, Florida, the ECG is coming together as a patchwork of multi-use pathways, most of which started their lives as railroad corridors. While trail development continues apace, there are gap areas between existing trails that need to be filled. Until those gaps are filled by new trail, the East Coast Greenway Alliance (ECGA) has a two-pronged strategy to get trail users from point A to point B: passenger rail, and interim on-road routes.
In mid-2000, after years of attempts by a number of different organizations, the East Coast Greenway Alliance (ECGA) entered into a partnership with Amtrak, which started to phase in this past year. Amtrak’s Twilight Shoreliner service, an overnight train from Boston to Newport News, Virginia, has added a baggage car modified to accept roll-on, roll-off bicycle service. This is the first train running the length of the Northeast Corridor to not necessitate the breaking down and boxing of bikes. With station stops at or near current (and near-future) segments of the East Coast Greenway, ECG users will be able to visit different portions of trail while never needing to get into a car. Amtrak’s Downeaster service, providing service from Boston to Portland, Maine (with projected expansion to the ECG cities of Brunswick and Lewiston/Auburn), offers similar bike-friendly service (service scheduled to begin on December 15, 2001). These new Amtrak services, combined with a number of bike-friendly commuter rail lines up and down the eastern seaboard, allow for greater exploration, recreation, transportation and tourism, all automobile-free. The East Coast Greenway Alliance considers railroad transportation to be “green” transportation, and happily deems Amtrak routes along our route to be parts of the ECG network.
The ECGA also creates interim on-road routes to get East Coast Greenway users from trail to trail. Working with local cyclists, trail users and government officials, these routes are developed guided by criteria including safety, amenities, directness, and historic and/or scenic value. These on-road routes, while an interim solution, are crucial components of the ECG trail network.
The creation of these on-road routes can also spur trail development. One instance of this can be seen in southwestern Connecticut. There have long been calls to develop a trail to parallel the Merritt Parkway, in the roadway’s wide right-of-way. However, despite the fact that original plans called for construction of a carriage path to parallel the roadway, funds to implement this path were not appropriated. In the spring of 2001, the ECGA (working with local advocates) developed an interim on-road route connecting New Haven to the New York State border. The press that followed the release of the user map and the inaugural bicycle ride has led to revival of trail discussion in town halls.
The East Coast Greenway idea was conceived 10 years ago, and there is much work left to be done. But the ECGA is undaunted. After all, the Appalachian Trail is over 75 years old, and still has a few problem areas. Making interim routes by incorporating rail service and on-road sections allows East Coast Greenway users to experience the breadth of the ECG experience before the trail is fully developed. Maine’s fabled rocky coastline, the invigorating buzz of downtown Boston, history-laden Annapolis, and the Spanish moss-veiled trees of coastal Georgia are all East Coast Greenway destinations that can be visited by less-conventional “trail” – that is, train service and on-road routing. By encouraging people to use these routes, a constituency is growing and a momentum building for development of conventional trails for walkers, cyclists and other muscle-powered users. Ultimately we will have an interconnected network of safe and green facilities from the Canadian border to Key West, Florida.
For more information, please visit www.greenway.org.
A Quick Swing Around the Region
Submitted by Craig della Penna,
New England Representative for the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
(413)-789-7154 railtrail@map.com
We are currently tracking nearly 150 rail-trail projects throughout the six-state region. Well over a third of those are just in Massachusetts. In the past 3 months, we’ve watched the embryonic beginnings of another 4-5 rail-trail projects in places like Dedham, Millbury, West Roxbury, Dighton, in Massachusetts. Actually since we’ve opened our office in Worcester’s Union Station, we have been contacted by nascent trail groups in every New England state. Most of these projects however, won’t be too long in length and won’t be providing any interstate connections.
However, let’s look at some of the more active projects that have that interstate connecting capability and what is happening to them.
CONNECTICUT
Southwest: There is the formation of a new organization in southwest Connecticut called the Merritt Parkway Trail Alliance based out of Stamford that is going to be leading a formalized effort that will be advocating for the creation of a bikeway within the right-of-way of the Merritt Parkway. This will be a part of the East Coast Greenway.
Central: Along the Farmington Canal Rail-Trail, most of the issues now are missing bridges or bridges needing major rehab. Some of the communities along the northern most end of the corridor are banding together to get a state wide grant to rehab all the bridges at once. Along the southern segments of the Farmington Canal Rail-Trail, the stretch in Hamden is the part most recently under construction. Once complete in 02, a 10 mile contiguous section will be open and the corridor will be over 60% open in CT.
MASSACHUSETTS
North Central: Winchendon/Gardner’s North Central Pathway is moving ahead with some funding being available to construct 3.5 miles starting this spring.
South Coast: Southeastern Regional Planning & Economic Development District, (SRPEDD), recently unveiled : A REGIONAL OPEN AND RECREATION SPACE PLAN, for the municipalities of theTen Mile River and Narragansett / Mt. Hope Bay Watersheds. In this extensive plan under the Action Agenda: Objective 2: Support continued multi-modal trail planning efforts in Fall River and Seekonk. Action: 2a. Supply written and/or technical assistance, as appropriate, to these two key potential east-west rail trail links within the watersheds. Objective 3: Support the implementation of the Swansea Bike Path which will link Fall River, Somerset and Swansea with the East Bay Trail (R.I.) via Warren, R.I. Action: 3a. Supply written and/or technical assistance, as appropriate, to this key interstate/intermunicipal bike path proposal. Who: EOEA Basin Team; Regional Planning Agency; municipalities; others as necessary . When: 2001-2002
Pioneer Valley: Southwick Rail-Trail phase one recently went through the 25% design hearing and is slowly moving forward. A ground breaking here could happen late in 02 or early 03. Westfield’s Columbia Greenway is moving forward as well with recent design hearings having been held.
Northeast: The City of Newburyport is building a short section of trail in town along the old Eastern Route of the B&M Railroad which would be a part of the future East Coast Greenway.
South Central: The Southbridge Branch’s acquisition moved through the state legislature with passage of an earmark on the Transportation Bond Bill. It is now is being considered by the administration. There has been a number of meetings on this issue between the state and local officials. Interestingly, if bought, Massachusetts would own a piece of Connecticut.
West: The old New Haven Railroad’s Rising Branch from the state line with NY at West Stockbridge to Housatonic is being eyed for a trail by local advocates. The state DEM is negotiating with the current owner, Mass Electric Company.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Seacoast Area: The state’s DOT has purchased the short 3 ish miles of the old Eastern route of the B&M Railroad corridor just north of the border at Salisbury Massachusetts in Seabrook New Hampshire. They have turned it over to the trails bureau in NH for their management. This will likely become a part of the East Coast Greenway.
South: The segment of the old Monadnock Branch running north from the Winchendon Mass area into Jaffrey is largely open now. We believe a good and easy connection could be made to the Winchendon Massachusetts area from here.
Southwest: The long forgotten bridge over the Connecticut River at Hinsdale can be decked fairly quickly when a viable link into downtown Brattleboro VT can be arranged.
Upper Valley: The Upper Valley Trails Alliance is working on a number of trail connections on both sides of the Connecticut River. This would include eyeing the underutilized double width railroad bridge between West Lebanon and White River Jct.
North Country: An embryonic organization has formed in the Colebrook area to build a trail along the recently abandoned branch that went to the Ethan Allen Furniture Mill. The corridor was bought by NH DOT and a short segment in VT is actually owned by the state of NH.
RHODE ISLAND
East: The Aquidneck Rail-Trail in Newport Rhode Island is moving through the planning and feasibility stages right now. If built out all the way, it will provide a largely off-road bike-path from downtown Newport to the Massachusetts border at Seekonk.
North: The Blackstone Valley Bikeway ‘Segment 6’ in the village of Abion is currently under construction. This 5 mile segment is a rail-w-trail (dual use) corridor. The alignment is within the right of way of the Providence & Worcester Railroad and will be separated by a fence. The ribbon cutting should be by fall of 02. This project will link Providence with Worcester.
West: The Trestle Trail on the western side of Coventry seems to be finally getting some fervor to address the shortcomings there—largely undecked bridges and poor surface. RI DEM held a meeting earlier this year and met with local biking advocates as well as equestrians who want a soft surface preserved. It would seem that perhaps all uses can be accommodated. Stay tuned however.
VERMONT
Northwest: The connection by way of the bike-ped ferry on the Island Line Trail from Burlington to Colchester opened this past year and usage was far above their expectations. Plans for extensions to South Hero and points north are moving ahead and a route to Montreal (some off road and some on road) should be open in a few years.
Southeast: Windham Regional Planning Commission recently held hearings about a feasibility study for a rail-w-trail in downtown Brattleboro. Such a dual use corridor would probably be necessary to connect to the old Fort Hill Branch Bridge over the Connecticut River.
Making the Interstate Connection along
the Blackstone River Bikeway
Submitted by Mark Jewell
Outdoor Recreation Planner
(401) 762-0250
The John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor, stretching from Worcester County in central Massachusetts to Providence County in Rhode Island, encompasses 350,000 acres of land bisected by the Blackstone River. Created by the U.S. Congress in 1986, the National Heritage Corridor is an affiliated National Park Service area that was formed to protect and interpret the rich historical, cultural and recreational aspects of the Blackstone River Valley. The American Industrial Revolution began on the banks of the Blackstone River in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, when the first successful mechanization process for spinning cotton was developed in 1790. Early entrepreneurs, craftsmen, and artisans utilized the waterpower of the Blackstone River to fuel the industrial revolution in America. This event transformed the livelihood of the New England communities from agricultural to industrial and initiated the steady migration from farm to factory.
The National Heritage Corridor is currently working in conjunction with the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) and the Massachusetts Highway Department (MHD) to develop the Blackstone River Bikeway, a forty-six mile bikeway (seventy five percent of which will be Class I) connecting Union Station in Worcester, MA to the East Bay Bikeway in Providence, RI. Twenty-eight of the forty-six miles are located in MA while the remaining eighteen miles are in RI. Currently, MA has approximately a mile of bikeway under construction; approximately six miles of bikeway have been completed in RI. In addition to being the second longest bikeway in the nation to share a corridor with an active railroad, the Blackstone River Bikeway has been designated as an official section of the East Coast Greenway, a 2,600-mile bikeway from Florida to Maine.
The process of successfully connecting the Blackstone River bikeway between Rhode Island and Massachusetts is offering a unique set of challenges. Officials have not faced difficulties with the engineering of the bikeway, but rather have been challenged by issues related to differing policies of the Massachusetts and Rhode Island State authorities. Due in large part to transportation standards set by the individual states, pedestrian users of the bikeway in Rhode Island must walk facing traffic, while pedestrians in Massachusetts travel with traffic. Therefore, when the bikeway crosses the state line, pedestrian users of the bikeway are forced to cross paths.
For example: A Rhode Islander out for an evening walk heading north on the bikeway will be walking on the left half of the bikeway (as required) facing oncoming bikeway traffic. Meanwhile, someone out for a walk in Massachusetts heading south will be walking on the right half of the bikeway (as required). As these pedestrians approach one another and the state line the person from MA heading into RI must switch sides to now walk facing oncoming traffic while the Rhode Islander, upon reaching the state line, will have to switch sides to now walk with bikeway traffic. This type of situation lends itself to serious safety and recreational satisfaction concerns. Currently users are left with a “cross at your own risk” approach to recreation management at the state line.
Interested parties are aware of these challenges and have been involved in informal discussions. The first acknowledgment of this policy difference came after the National Heritage Corridor created a bi-state map for the East Coast Greenway Alliance. At that time, MHD’s Bikeway and Pedestrian Coordinator, Josh Lehman, voiced his concern over the potential problems the policy difference might create.
The MHD’s current position views the bikeway as part of the statewide transportation network; therefore, the bikeway follows the standards of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) and American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO). Furthermore, MHD believes that a center line delineates the direction of travel rather than the mode of travel.
Rhode Island first implemented the “walk on left” policy in 1986-87 along the East Bay Bikeway, RIDOT’s first bikeway project. The first segment of the East Bay bikeway to be constructed was designed to include stenciling of a bicycle and pedestrian on the right and left sides of the bikeway respectively. Over time the stenciling caused confusion among users so RIDOT responded by posting the “Walk On Left” signs to further clarify the stenciling. No formal policy exists for the current “Walk On Left” signage. It was simply a response to eliminate any confusion over the stenciling. The stenciling and subsequent signage set the precedent for future bikeways in Rhode Island and now RIDOT must decide how to proceed with the Blackstone River Bikeway, the first to extend into a neighboring state.
Thus far, no formal talks have been scheduled between RIDOT and MHD. It seems apparent that during the early stages of bikeway planning and construction RIDOT, MHD and the National Heritage Corridor should engage in productive discussions to resolve this safety concern and user conflict issue. Perhaps the Greenway Forum in March would be an opportune time to have a panel discussion with representatives from all interested parties.
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