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Town discusses trail washouts, culvert repairs and bridge fundraising for rail-trail projects
Summary
Officials and volunteers outlined a multi-part trail repair and improvement effort that would address four major washouts, multiple culvert replacements and two bridges. Estimated costs, grant opportunities and private fundraising were discussed; the board agreed by consensus to continue pursuing state and federal grants and local matching funds.
Residents, volunteers and staff updated the board on damage and planned repairs along the rail‑trail corridor, including culvert failures, washouts and two bridge projects.
Speakers described four major washouts at two road crossings with an initial estimated repair cost of $1,170,000. The town’s share — quoted at 20% of project cost for locally administered items — was discussed as approximately $344,000; the meeting record shows the town already has $190,000 committed toward that share. Presenters said additional crossings and related projects raise the combined estimated cost for the corridor to about $2,340,000.
Volunteers and staff described several funding routes: a federal FEMA allocation that is already spent on prior work, an ARPA-funded Christian Hill substation project that may cover a crossing, an RTP (Recreational Trails Program) grant awarded the previous year to finish hard-pack surface material on the Cheshire Trail (3.5 miles between town lines), and the state Bureau of Trails (Bureau representative Alexis was cited) for GIA grants that can cover 100% of materials for snowmobile club-related crossings.
“We can use [Bureau of Trails funding], but she thinks it would be cleaner if the town just submitted for the grant,” a participant summarized when describing the Bureau’s advice on materials funding, citing Alexis at the Bureau of Trails.
Participants described local contractor support: a town-affiliated crew (named Joe in the meeting) expected to provide labor or in‑kind assistance on culverts and some trail work; the group said Joe could source materials at favorable prices. Volunteers also described plans to pursue a capital campaign and corporate donations to fund construction of one of two missing trail bridges — the meeting record noted one bridge over Route 101 (for which a grant application was being considered) and a second bridge on Factory Road lacking funding.
Project timing depends on engineering studies and grant approvals. Staff said an engineering study was required before certain work could proceed; participants said tree removal and clearing largely occurred last fall and that bat‑season restrictions limit tree removal until mid‑April. The volunteers and staff reported steady progress: culvert inspection, material quotes and contractor engagement are underway, and the RTP contract work is expected to be implemented this year.
The board recorded consensus to continue pursuing grants and to carry unfinished warrant appropriations forward to future years if necessary; no binding appropriation or vote to commit additional town dollars was taken during the meeting. Staff and volunteers will continue to coordinate periodic meetings with trail partners and the Bureau of Trails, and will return with grant application materials, engineering estimates and updated cost breakdowns.
The attendees also reviewed related municipal projects in planning or bidding stages — including wastewater solar array reviews, bridge bid schedules and building exterior bids — that may tie into scheduling and contractor availability for some trail work.
