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Senate Transportation hears bill to limit railroad liability to enable Connecticut River bike path
Summary
Committee discussion of S.261 focused on adding railroad property and utility corridors to a statutory exemption from liability to enable a continuous bike path along the Connecticut River. Members raised safety concerns for active rail corridors, lease and utility questions, and agreed to consult the rail division during budget hearings.
The Senate Transportation committee discussed S.261 on Feb. 17, a bill that would amend state statute to limit railroad liability where public recreational access is permitted, with the stated aim of enabling a continuous bike path along the west bank of the Connecticut River from the Massachusetts border to Canada.
The bill's presenter (Unidentified Speaker 1) told the committee, “This is a bill that I will go over fairly quickly,” and said the proposal grew out of constituent interest and conversations with colleagues. The presenter described S.261 as a short change to the statute—spoken in the hearing as an addition to “12 … 57 92”—that would add railroad property, railroad rights-of-way and utility corridors to categories…
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