Over time, the need to coordinate on improvements to the rail trail - PDF document

• This is the first of approximately 5 planned meetings of a Project Advisory Committee to consider the future of the Ashuelot Rail Trail. This meeting will feature an introduction to the project, the role of the Committee, and provide an opportunity for an early outreach activity intended to begin in May. • My name is Henry Underwood and I am a GIS Specialist/Planner at Southwest Region Planning Commission. I am the point person for this project. Who is Involved? • Over time, the need to coordinate on improvements to the rail trail has risen for local, regional, and statewide groups. Because of the importance of rail trails to the transportation network of our region, a collaborative approach is needed. • SWRPC plans to engage with all four communities along the rail trail corridor to review and prioritize solutions to issues and needs through a roughly 12-18 month planning process. • The Ashuelot Rail Trail is an enormous transportation, recreation, and health asset to a wide variety of users throughout the year. It’s also a regional asset that doesn’t respect town boundaries. • Rail trails have long been recognized as a way to improve local and regional opportunities related to transportation, recreation, economic development, and 1

health throughout Southwest New Hampshire. A variety of individuals and groups take on maintenance of rail trails, and they are enjoyed routinely by residents and visitors alike. Southwest Region Planning Commission (SWRPC) sees value in developing a plan which addresses the future of our rail trails. What will be Accomplished? • Plan for Ashuelot Rail Trail is a planning effort aimed to address challenges and opportunities along the approximately 21.5-mile stretch of trail near the Massachusetts state line and Keene, New Hampshire. • The project will collect data on existing trail use, conditions, and amenities and conduct meetings among municipalities and other stakeholders to both share information and consider maintenance, connectivity, safety, and coordinated improvement to the trail. • One goal will be a shared vision for the Ashuelot Rail Trail to better inform volunteer groups, local government, and regional and statewide transportation planning. • The long term goal is that the project will be a model for the other rail trails around the region. Why the Ashuelot Rail Trail? • Recent project successes and momentum • Coordination • Community interest • Previous research and data collection (especially the Keene State College Geography Department “The Ashuelot Rail Trail: The ART of Commuting”) 1

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Health • To take one issue in Southwest NH, obesity is a health priority. Statewide, 25.5% of adults are considered obese (2010) and 18.1% of children (2008) according to New Hampshire’s State Health Improvement Plan. Cheshire County isn’t statistically higher or lower than the State average. Recent increases have had health professionals, communities, planners and other asking: “how can we provide more opportunities for people to be active?” • Trails and greenways create healthy recreation and transportation opportunities by providing people of all ages with attractive, safe, accessible and low- or no-cost places to cycle, walk, hike, jog or skate. Transportation • The Ashuelot Rail Trail was created as a transportation corridor and continues to be one today. In areas it serves a vital role as part of the street network, providing a low-stress alternative to walking or biking along the road shoulder. And, it connects several population centers together. In considering bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, the rail trail is a de-facto separated path, traveling to many of the same destinations as our State and local highways, but without the stress of bicycling or walking near sometimes busy highways. There are challenges to this 4

asset in that a wide variety of users can share the same space. Environment • The Ashuelot Rail Trail crosses important habitats, parallels a NH Designated River, the Ashuelot River, and connects a variety of conservation areas and other trails that make up a variety of natural areas important for plant and animal species and our experience of nature. Economy • Sometimes the economic value of trails is obvious (for example, if a business locates directly on a trail or near a trailhead). Other times, trails are part of the bigger picture of what makes an area attractive to locate or relocate a business. There is also the consideration of tourism, an important part of Southwest NH’s economy. Identity • The Ashuelot Railroad and remaining infrastructure (bridges, trails, depots, etc.) provides context to the region’s economic past. As I mentioned earlier, the presence of trails (esp. abandoned railroad lines), is a prominent feature that makes our region special. Source: https://www.railstotrails.org/experience-trails/benefits-of-trails/ 4

What has been done so far? • New Hampshire has a large number of multi-use trails throughout the State. By multi-use trails, I mean an off-street path for people walking, biking, snowmobiling, skiing, etc. • The New Hampshire Department of Transportation and the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (formerly DRED) – created a 2005 State Trails Plan to identify these trails, describe their conditions, and describe their potential for future trail use and development. • Specifically, the Plan included an inventory of abandoned rail corridors. At the time, over 300 miles (over 23 distinct corridors) was owned by the State of New Hampshire. • In Southwest NH, these trails include: • Ashuelot Branch – 21.5 miles from Hinsdale to Keene • Cheshire Branch – 42.0 miles from Fitzwilliam to Walpole • Fort Hill Branch – 8.7 miles in Hinsdale • Hillsborough Branch – 7.8 miles from Hillsborough to Bennington • Monadnock Branch – 7.2 miles from Rindge to Jaffrey • Greenville Branch – 2.2 miles from Mason to Greenville • In total, this accounts for 89.4 miles, or 27.0% of the total mileage inventoried as 5

part of the State Trails Plan (330.9 miles) 5

The Ashuelot Branch (now referred to as the Ashuelot Rail Trail) was assessed by the Plan to include the following key points: • The Ashuelot Railroad corridor acquisition from Hinsdale through Winchester and Swanzey to Keene was accomplished through federal Transportation Enhancements Program funding in the early 1990’s (94 - 02TE/12133C) • Owner listed as the New Hampshire Department of Transportation with a management agreement with the New Hampshire Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (formerly DRED) • All non-motorized uses are permitted • In the winter, snowmobiles and ATVs are permitted to use the trail • Parallels State Bicycle Route (including NH 119 as well as local roads) • At the time of the inventory as part of the 2005 plan, the surface included ballast, gravel, dirt, cinder, and sand • 8 rail bridge crossings • Maintenance via Keene Sno-Riders, Winchester Trail Riders, Pisgah Mt. Trail Riders • Typical right of way widths of 66 feet • Parallels the Ashuelot River 6

• Federal, State, local, and private funds are what made the rail trail possible as a pathway and what continue to improve its existing conditions. • There is an opportunity to advocate for and prioritize new needs via a regional plan to build on these successes • The planning process is an opportunity to learn from each other's successes (and challenges) and build upon momentum at the northern end of the corridor and elsewhere Selected citations: • https://www.nh.gov/dot/projects/keeneswanzey10309p/index.htm • http://www.sentinelsource.com/news/local/section-of-ashuelot-rail-trail-in- swanzey-to-be-dedicated/article_c268006d-68cb-5592-ba7e-5baafea602e9.html • https://www.nhstateparks.org/uploads/pdf/NH-RTP-Projects_2014.pdf 7

• Although the trail is clearly a regional asset, very little regional trail planning has taken place. Mostly it’s been confined to local planning. • However, at least one regional planning initiative related to the region’s rail trails occurred in 2006. It included brainstorming of ideal trail qualities, mapping, and public meetings for each trail in the region. • The following ideal qualities were identified as part of a September 13, 2006 meeting: • Cooperative sharing of trails and maintenance • Proper enforcement • Year-round use • Destination points-natural and historic • Remote • Multi-use: ATVs, Snowmobiles, Bicycles, Hikers • Vistas • Natural • Safe and clean • Smooth consistent surface • Connectivity • Strenuous hikes 8

• Encounters with wildness • Access near residence • Peaceful • Good for hiking and walking • Exclude automobiles • Options for all users and skill levels 8

• SWRPC is responsible for maintaining a long range transportation plan. The primary goals of the plan are shown here and will guide the development of a plan for the Ashuelot Rail Trail • Recall the network of rail trails depicted earlier: SWRPC sees this initiative as a long term project to address each corridor in the region. • Trails, as you know, do not respect municipal, or even state boundaries. • Our long range transportation plan recognizes our rail trails as assets and a big opportunity. It considers rail trails as part of corridor systems. In this case providing an alternative for traveling NH 10 and NH 119 9