Rail Trail e-Newsletter February 2025 #94

Hi Craig,

Hope you are still enjoying the winter. Don't worry, it'll be over soon. In this e-newsletter we have some great stories. One is by Bob Flaherty, a writer for the Daily Hampshire Gazette who takes a ride on the freshly plowed Norwottuck section of the MCRT where he takes a spill on ice and breaks his arm. The story is about his rescuers and his recovery journey. I've known him for over 15 years and this is one of his most impactful stories. Sorry, I didn't mean for the pun, but I'll leave it. (Don't worry. He too gets this and he'll smile at this.)

We also have letters of support from some of the 26 communities on the MCRT encouraging the state to Finish the Rail Trail. Yes, we are in the process of pulling this together. Not finished yet, but as an odd coincidence, we have letters of support (or are getting them) from two communities that 25+ years voted-down the trail. What a crazy, crazy journey this thing is.

Enjoy this one.

Craig Della Penna, Board President

Norwottuck Network, Inc.

62 Chestnut St. Northampton, MA 01062

413 575 2277 CraigDP413@gmail.com

In the GREEN area, we have news about the

Mass Central Rail Trail

and perhaps some of the 18 other trails that connect to it.

More stories about the Mass Central Rail Trail in the Daily Hampshire Gazette

Selectboard in the Town of Hadley weighs-in, in support of Finishing the Rail Trail. Read the above story. And here is the letter of support. (Just remember that it took the state from 1980 to 1993 to build the Norwottuck Rail Trail. And a lot of that was because the town of Hadley back then had more than a few skeptics. They are all-in now and eager to see it get finished. CDP)

Let's be careful out there on the trail. Read the above story.

Here's a few more communities echoing in on the idea of "Let's just

Finish the Rail Trail."

Selectboard in the Town of Hudson weighs-in, in support of Finishing the Rail Trail. Read More.

Selectboard in the Town of Weston weighs-in, in support of Finishing the Rail Trail. Read More.

More bits of news on the MCRT

On Tuesday February 18th, the Selectboard in Belchertown voted to write a letter of support encouraging the state to Finish the Mass Central Rail Trail.

They also instructed the Town Manager to also have the head of every town department also sign onto the letter. As soon as that appears, I'll include that in this e-Newsletter.

Imagine that. Both Btown and Weston voted down the new fangled idea of a trail 25+ years ago. Now both have written letters encouraging the state to finish the thing. Even I couldn't have written the script here.

It is always great to see betterments like this take place. Read the article.

AND IN THE WHITE AREA,

OTHER NEWS AROUND THE REGION

The Yin and Yang of Rail Trails in CT

This is the longest interstate trail in New England. New Haven & Northampton Canal Greenway and it is the cover story in RTC's great magazine this month.

CT Heritage Corridor: How the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail Is Sparking Connections and Community Prosperity in Connecticut By: Cory Matteson January 30, 2025. RTC Magazine. What a great story this is. Read more.

And when this was a railroad, it was the shortest railroad in the US.

A popular Connecticut walking trail follows a defunct rail line not even locals know about

At just two miles long, it was once the "shortest freight-and-passenger railroad."

By Andrew DaRosa, Staff Writer, CT-Insider, 2-18-25. Read more.

A few stories from the Berkshires

Cong. Richard Neal visits North Adams to celebrate over $17 million in federal funding to expand the Ashuwillticook throughout the Northern Berkshires

Building out the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail, better connecting the Berkshires

Lauren R. Stevens | The View from White Oaks, The Berkshire Eagle, 1-30-25. Read more.

Here's a great multi-page story from Berkshire Magazine about Paul Jahnige and the Mass Office of Outdoor Recreation (MOOR) and more tidbits. . . Text Link

A couple of stories from

other places in New England

EASTERN TRAIL IN MAINE CONNECTIVITY STUDY AND COMMUNITY MEETING RECORDING By Jamie Perkins 11/21/24, The Enterprise

A hearty thank you to the approximately 75 people (~50 in-person and 25 via Zoom) at Eliot Town Hall. The meeting started with a welcome from State Representative Michele Meyer and an introduction to the study from the Eastern Trail Alliance Executive Director Chelsea Berlin. (and this is a very nice story-map website about this important trail being developed. CDP) Read more.

The state might fund part of a rail trail in Warner, NH. Local residents fear ‘degrading’ environmental impacts By CHARLOTTE MATHERLY Concord Monitor staff 1-23-2025

A proposed rail trail would stretch from Warner to Contoocook, creating a path for walking, biking and other activities along the scenic Warner River.

Longtime Warner resident and naturalist David Carroll opposes it “every inch of the way.” Read more.

AND IN THE ORANGE AREA;

Interesting, "HIGH ALTITUDE" Stories From Around the Country and Sometimes Beyond.

Bike Lanes?

Study shows why bike lane projects are controversial and what cities can do to make it easier by Ron Johnson. Momentum Magazine

How, when and why Seattle started to shift into a bike-friendlier city

Feb. 8, 2025 By Tom Fucoloro

Special to The Seattle Times

Editor’s note: The following is an edited excerpt from Chapter 4 of “Biking Uphill in the Rain: The Story of Seattle from Behind the Handlebars,” Read more.

In Boston, who has the right to public space? Cyclists or drivers?

The crowd at Josh Kraft’s mayoral kickoff went wild when he promised to ‘pause’ construction of new bike lanes. But are the lanes a cause of Boston’s traffic and parking woes? Or a way to solve them? (It's gonna be a wild election season this year. Buckle your seat belts. CDP) Read more

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

The new Norwottuck Network is a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation specifically set up to help get the longest rail trail in New England--the Mass Central Rail Trail --built-out, operational and notable.

We can help do that by making small, mini-grants available to local groups and communities that will bring restore/renovate/replace historic mile-markers on the corridor. Or help fund kiosks that will call out forgotten railroad or industrial history of that locale.

Or if and when we need to, (or are asked to) we will commission major reports to answer the "elephant in the room" questions, never asked.

We will want to work with the state park agency Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) on standardized kiosk designs.

We will keep you all posted as to developments as we go. We have made it easy to DONATE through the Network for Good.

Here's some of the Podcasts

I've been on.

Constant Contact alerted us that this newsletter is in the top 10% of all of Constant Contact's newsletters, worldwide, in terms of readership engagement. Imagine that!

CLICK ON THE IMAGE ABOVE TO SEE THE NOTIFICATION LETTER..

Phone: 413-575-2277 or Email Me

Archive of past e newsletters

My innovative Real Estate practice which supports this pretty much monthly, post.