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Town outlines $1.72 million repair plan for rail-trail washouts; town to cover 20% match
Summary
Selectboard members discussed repair of four major washouts on the Cheshire Rail Trail, a state TAP grant that will fund 80% of the estimated $1,720,000 project, reuse of the Christian Hill bridge for a separate crossing, and options to cover the town's roughly $340,000 share.
The Selectboard discussed plans to repair four major washouts on the Cheshire Rail Trail and options to pay the town's required match for a federal/state Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant.
Under the current estimate presented at the meeting, the repair work for the four washouts between the two Holbrook Road crossings is $1,720,000. Town staff said the TAP-funded portion would cover 80 percent of that cost, leaving the town responsible for 20 percent (about $344,000). Town officials said they already have some match funds but remain short by roughly $100,000 to $125,000, depending on final numbers.
Why it matters: the rail trail serves regional recreation and tourism users and several crossings were damaged by storm-related washouts. Repairing the trail preserves public access, reduces ongoing maintenance risks and allows planned trail improvements to proceed.
Key details and funding options - Project scope: repairs cover four of seven washouts between the two Holbrook Road crossings; three additional northern crossings (which did not fully wash through the rail bed) will be addressed separately using an ARPA award obtained by a snowmobile club. - Estimated construction cost for the four-washout TAP project: $1,720,000; town match: 20% of that amount. - Local funding options discussed: existing warrant-article money previously approved (amounts already spent would remain valid); a potential application to the Mascoma Bank Foundation (presenter said the foundation's maximum award per application is $25,000); a possible GIA grant to cover materials (the Bureau of Trails contact said the town could use GIA funds for materials and some equipment costs); FEMA unanticipated revenue was also noted as a possible source. - Timing: the TAP project would be scheduled for construction in 2027, and a separate Christian Hill bridge project (federally funded and historic-resource driven) is expected next year. Town staff said the Christian Hill bridge replacement project includes moving and reusing the existing historic bridge at the Eversource substation washout; that bridge installation is part of a separate funded project.
Bridge reuse and logistics Town staff described the reuse plan for the Christian Hill bridge: the larger federally-funded Christian Hill project will replace or repair the culvert and make space for reusing the historic timber bridge at a washout near the Eversource substation. Staff explained the primary structural issue for the existing bridge is its abutments rather than deck timbers, and that moving and reinstalling the bridge would require additional abutment work.
Next steps and risks Meeting participants agreed by consensus to pursue the Mascoma Bank Foundation application (up to $25,000) with Cheshire County's grant manager helping to prepare the submission with town staff. Staff also said they would pursue an application for the GIA/materials grant in 2027 if construction timing requires it; GIA funding decisions are fast and would need to align with the construction year, introducing timing risk. The town may also need a future warrant article if the CAP/TAP project does not progress within the current appropriation time window.
What was not decided No final contract award or construction contract was approved at the meeting. Exact engineering contractual details, final funding commitments and the precise value of grants not yet awarded were not specified.
