Rail Trail Newsletter 6-24-2018 #22
Greetings!

Getting closer to the Golden Spike 2018 conference. We are about a month away now and things are all falling into place. One of the last pieces still outstanding is the booklet we’ll be mailing out to attendees that’ll feature maps and descriptions of all the tours we’re hosting that day. Kris Badertscher, Field Organizer for FNTG is putting this together.

In this newsletter, I have a little piece from the town of Weston that mentions that the trail is under construction right now and to please keep away until it is complete along with some basic rules about how the trail will work.

I’m still in shock that it is actually under construction. It seems like only yesterday that it was a controversial thing.

Another piece that you’ll be interested in is about the improved Google Map of the MCRT by Tom Kelleher, Map Master for the MCRT website.

There is also a three piece section on Tunnels on Rail Trails. In honor of the existing tunnel on the MCRT in the town of Clinton, MA. This nearly 1,000 foot tunnel will be a part of the trail some time, and I’ve included some recent items about other rail trails around the US that have tunnels on them. We aren't inventing the wheel here.

Enjoy, and please do register for the upcoming conference this week.  

See you soon!

Craig Della Penna
413 575 2277
"In the News"
 and Updates About the Longest Rail Trail Project in New England
News about the Golden Spike 2018 Conference this July
FOR GOLDEN SPIKE 2018

Our registration system is now up and running.
Communities on the 
 on the MCRT and their websites

Did you know that many communities (or groups like land trusts) on the MCRT alignment are working on their section of the trail? 

Here are links to websites where you can learn who the contact person is, when these groups meet, when hearings are being planned and how to sign up to get notices sent to you directly.
Belmont: Link here to the town appointed committee. 
Belmont:  Link here  to the Belmont Citizens Forum.
Somerville: Friends of the Community Path's Facebook page is here. 
Waltham: Link here to the Waltham Land Trust's site. Link here to the Waltham Bike Committee. And link here to the City's page on the MCRT.
Weston: Link here.
Wayland: Link here. 
Sudbury: Link here for the N-S intersecting trail--Bruce Freeman Rail Trail. 
Hudson: Link here.  
Berlin: Link here goes to the town's Rail Trail Committee. Once on that page, you can sign up to get notices of meetings, agendas, minutes, etc. They also have a pretty nice website w pix of the future trail. Link here.
Clinton: Link here.
Wachusett Greenways area: Link here.
East Quabbin Land Trust service area: Link here.  
Ware: Check out the new FaceBook page. Link here. 
Belchertown/Northampton area: Link here.
More news about the MCRT and Golden Spike 2018







Check out the new page on the Golden Spike 2018 Event site!
I t is entitled: "Golden Spikes?" and speaks a bit about the history of the Golden Spike events, and our special plaques. The events began in 2002 and the plaques came about in 2014. Click here to visit!





Mass Central Rail Trail – RULES OF THE TRAIL
[from the town of Weston]
The base layer of pavement has been installed and the top layer is anticipated to be installed within the next two weeks. Read more.

[Imagine that. Weston is under-construction. This is simply astounding. CDP]
TWICE A WEEK, I GET CALLS ABOUT A MAP OF THE MCRT
Did you know that Tom Kelleher , Map Master for the MCRT website has dramatically improved the Google Map section of the MCRT website? Click on the map above and it will take you to a special map with drop downs that show where parking lots are, state or town forests adjacent to the trail, historic photos of old stations and even an up to date layout of the surface of each section.

AND IN OTHER NEWS
AROUND THE REGION
A RAIL TRAIL DEVELOPING IN NEW YORK FROM THE HUDSON RIVER TO THE CATSKILLS
NEW PALTZ – Ulster County Executive Mike Hein provided an update to area residents and businesses about a three-phase expansion of the Hudson Valley Rail Trail. Read more . And CLICK HERE to go to a short video

TUNNELS ON RAIL TRAILS
3 old railroad tunnels help make the Elroy-Sparta Trail one of Wisconsin's most popular
There are a few signs you're nearing a tunnel on the Elroy-Sparta State Trail.  
First, the woods around you climb into fern- and moss-covered cliffs, and small streams line both sides of the trail. The temperature drops and the air smells earthy. Read more here .
From RTC's report on Tunnels
Tunnels are among the most striking physical features of a trail and are often the most memorable aspects of a trail experience, while underpasses offer safe crossings of roads or other barriers where an at-grade crossing would be dangerous. Read more here .
The almost 1,000 foot tunnel on the MCRT at Clinton was featured several years ago in the Creepy-chusetts website. Read more here.
  MY CALENDAR
Here's my calendar of upcoming in-person lectures, online webinars, bike tours, book-signings etc. Email me at: [email protected] for more information on any of these events or if your community OR trail group might like to host one.

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