Plan for Ashuelot Rail Trail: A Pilot Project

Overview

Rail trails have long been recognized as a way to improve local and regional opportunities related to transportation, recreation, economic development, and public health. A variety of individuals and groups take on maintenance of rail trails, and they are enjoyed routinely by residents and visitors alike. Southwest Region Planning Commission (SWRPC) sees value in developing a plan which addresses the future of our region's rail trails.

Plan for Ashuelot Rail Trail is a planning effort aimed to address challenges and opportunities along the approximately 21.5-mile stretch of trail between Hinsdale and Keene, New Hampshire. The project will involve collecting data on existing trail use, conditions and amenities and conducting meetings among municipalities and other stakeholders to both share information and consider maintenance, connectivity, safety, and coordinated improvement to the trail. We hope that the project will result in a common vision for Ashuelot Rail Trail to better inform volunteer groups, local government and regional and statewide transportation planning.

Open House

Saturday, November 17, 2018

10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Whitcomb Hall

17 Main Street

Swanzey, NH

RSVP Online

Printable Flyer

Meetings and Outreach

Online Survey

Project Advisory Committee Meeting #1 (May 3, 2018)

Agenda

Minutes

Slide Deck (with notes)

Map Posters: Keene, Swanzey, Winchester, Hinsdale

Project Advisory Committee Meeting #2 (September 13, 2018)

Agenda

Minutes

Slide Deck

Maps

Plan for Ashuelot Rail Trail Locator Map (SWRPC)

Rail Trails in New Hampshire (New Hampshire Department of Transportation)

Other Resources

Plan for Ashuelot Rail Trail: A Pilot Project Handout (February 2018)

New Hampshire State Trails Plan (New Hamphsire Department of Transportation)

Video: "Ashuelot Rail Trail Bike Ride Series #2 - Keene State College to Pine Street in Swanzey" (Greg Pregent)

Video: "Ashuelot Rail Trail Bike Ride Series #9 - West Swanzey to Winchester NH Depot" (Greg Pregent)

Video: "Ashuelot Rail Trail Bike Ride Series #5 - Winchester NH to the Hinsdale NH Depot" (Greg Pregent)

Video: "Rail Trails of America" (Timothy Lawrence)

Contact Information

For additional information, contact:

Henry Underwood, GIS Specialist/Planner

Southwest Region Planning Commission

37 Ashuelot Street

Keene, NH 03431

603-357-0557

hunderwood@swrpc.org

Dec. 3	The Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) will meet at 2:00 p.m. at 37 Ashuelot Street in Keene. For more information please contact J.B. Mack of SWRPC staff.
Dec. 11	The SWRPC Board of Directors will meet at 3:00 p.m. at 37 Ashuelot Street in Keene. For more information please contact Becky Baldwin of SWRPC staff.

Nov. 20	The Monadnock Region Coordinating Council for Community Transportation (MRCC) will meet at 2:00 p.m. at 37 Ashuelot Street in Keene. For more information please contact J.B. Mack of SWRPC staff.
Nov. 27	The Hinsdale Brattleboro Bridge Project Advisory Committee will meet at 10:00 a.m. at the Brattleboro Municipal Center, 230 Main Street, Brattleboro, Vermont. For more information please contact J.B. Mack of SWRPC staff.
Nov. 28	The Stoddard Hazard Mitigation Committee will meet at 6:30 p.m. at the Stoddard Fire Station for the fourth meeting of the hazard mitigation plan update. The public is encouraged to attend and participate. For more information please contact Lisa Murphy of SWRPC staff.