Monadnock rail-trail group asks JCC for help building bridge to complete Jaffrey stretch

Mike Kowalczyk and Bob Meissner, representatives of the Monadnock Regional Rail Trail Collaborative, asked members of the JCC at a June 17, 2026 meeting at Jaffrey Town Hall for the commission’s help completing the Monadnock Branch rail trail through Jaffrey.

The pair said the project focus is the stretch from Webster Street to the town line and that the greatest immediate need is a new bridge to span an obstacle on the route. They said the collaborative is pursuing Recreational Trails Program (RTP) grants to rehabilitate the corridor and will bring in an engineering firm to develop plans and estimates. The presentation in the minutes did not include detailed cost figures.

Tom Ahlborn-Hsu, the meeting chair, suggested exploring bridge designs that would minimize environmental impacts. Andy Lawn, listed in the minutes as the Select Board representative, said the request should be taken to the Economic Development Committee with more detailed information on what materials, labor or funding are needed and the expected costs. The minutes record that Tom and the rail-trail representatives will follow up; there was no formal vote on funding at the June 17 meeting.

Why it matters: finishing the trail link would create a continuous recreational corridor in the area and may be eligible for state or federal trail funding through RTP. The need for an engineered bridge and environmental-sensitive design means the project will require additional planning and likely multiple funding sources.

Next steps: the minutes state the project request will be referred to the Economic Development Committee for a detailed cost breakdown and that commission members will follow up with the rail-trail collaborative. No formal commitment of town funds or materials was recorded at this meeting.