The Connecticut Department of Transportation will conduct a public informational meeting concerning the proposed Pequonnock River Trail from Route 127 (White Plains Road) to Quarry Road in Trumbull on Tuesday, December 10, 2013 (Snow Date: January, 9, 2014) in the Council Chambers, Trumbull Town Hall, 5866 Main Street, Trumbull, Connecticut. An informal question and answer session will begin at 6:30 p.m. followed by a formal design presentation at 7 p.m.
The purpose of the project is to continue the Pequonnock River Trail from Route 127 across the Route 15 (Merritt Parkway) Corridor to Quarry Road. This will enhance continuity with the existing bicycle trail system throughout Connecticut and provide an alternative to motor vehicle transportation. This project involves the construction of a multi-use trail from White Plains Road to Quarry Road in the town of Trumbull for a total length of approximately 4,500 feet. It is proposed to install a crosswalk on Route 127 from Twin Brooks Park to allow trail users to cross the road onto a new eight-foot wide section of bituminous trail along the south side of the road. The trail leads to a crosswalk at Rocky Hill Road. A new five-foot wide concrete sidewalk along the eastern side of Rocky Hill Road will accommodate pedestrians while bicyclists travel with the traffic on the roadway. The ten-foot wide multi-use bituminous trail will resume from the southern cul-de-sac on Rocky Hill Road. The trail then leads toward the Merritt Parkway crossings. The first crossing occurs at the southbound Merritt Parkway off-ramp to Route 25 (Exit 49) where a new box culvert tunnel structure is proposed. The trail then leads to an existing, abandoned railroad bridge over the Merritt Parkway and then back under the northbound Merritt Parkway on-ramp from Route 25 through a second new box culvert tunnel structure. The trail will require the total acquisition of one private property immediately south of this second box culvert tunnel to accommodate the trail alignment. Illumination will be provided within both tunnels for users’ safety. As the trail continues south, it passes a Connecticut Light and Power Company right-of-way with transmission lines traversing east-west, and ends in the vicinity of the Quarry Road cul-de-sac. Construction is anticipated to begin in spring 2016 based on the availability of funding. The estimated construction cost for this project is approximately $3.5 million. This project is anticipated to be undertaken with 80% Federal funds and 20% State funds. The public informational meeting is being held to afford a full opportunity for public participation and to allow open discussion of any views and comments the community may have concerning this proposed project. Anyone wishing to discuss the project may contact Timothy M. Wilson at (860) 594-3189 or by e-mail at Timothy.Wilson@ct.gov. Plans are also available for review at the Trumbull Town Hall. The Jonah Center for Earth and Art invites the public to a presentation and
planning forum on extending the Air Line multi-use trail from East Hampton to Portland, on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2013, at 7 p.m. in the Mary Flood Room of the Portland Library. The program will be led by John Shafer, President of the Jonah Center for Earth and Art, and Deanna Rhodes, Planning and Zoning Administrator for the Town of Portland. They will describe the project using maps, ground level and aerial photographs, cost estimates, potential funding sources, and elements of the planning and community organizing tasks that will be required to realize this vision. The Air Line State Park Trail follows the right-of-way of the former Air Line Railroad, which was built to connect Boston and New York City in the latter half of the 19th century. The corridor was known as the Air Line because it traced the most direct route possible - as if by a line drawn through the air. For 86 years, from 1873 to 1959, the Air Line provided a high-speed passenger rail connection between these prominent northeast cities. In 1975, the Air Line rail corridor was deeded to the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), and in 1996 the DEP proposed rehabilitating the rail bed as a linear state park. The 17.6 mile stretch between East Hampton and Windham is presently the most improved and popular section of the trail, featuring scenic bridges, ponds, marshes, and gorges. For more information about the program or the Jonah Center, contact John Hall at 860-398-3771 or visit www.thejonahcenter.org. The town of Wilton is scheduled to break ground on a demonstration section of the Norwalk River Valley Trail on Danbury Road on November 7.
The construction will start on the half-mile trail segment from Danbury Road to Raymond Lane on Gaylord Drive South. This will be the first part of the town's eight-mile Wilton Center Loop, a trail that will wrap around the center of town. The Norwalk River Valley Trail that is currently proposed will be 38-miles, and include multi-use trails that will go from Norwalk's Calf Pasture Beach to Rogers Park in Danbury. The trail will follow Route 7 from Norwalk to Danbury Road in Wilton, where it will then split off into two directions before coming back together. The demonstration section of the trail will be completed within six to eight weeks after construction begins. The purpose of creating the demonstration area is to help with fundraising efforts to support the creation of the rest of the trail. Its demonstration section is expected to be completed within six to eight weeks of the start of its construction, Sesto said. “We have done a really strong job noticing the abutting neighborhoods,” said Sesto. The town has held workshops with homeowners living beside the proposed trail, and the majority of them seemed supportive of the project, according to Sesto. The four-mile west side of the loop with travel from Danbury Road up Wolfpit Road, down River Road, through Wilton Center, past the Wilton Train Station and Merwin Meadows and connect with the east side near Allens Meadows Park. The loop’s east side will be built over four miles with a public-private partnership between the townl and the state’s Department of Transportation. Portions of the trail will utilize existing roadways and sidewalks on streets, Sesto said. “This is pretty exciting, this is an important milestone,” said First Selectman Bill Brennan at the selectmen’s meeting. The first piece of the east side will be paid for through private donations and grants, Sesto said. A 2,000-foot-long, 10-foot-wide boardwalk will be built through otherwise unwalkable woods, Sesto said. She said nearly $300,000 has been raised so far, and that Friends of NRVT hopes to reach $500,000 by Thanksgiving. “The community members have really been stepping up some very generous support for us,” said Sesto. Selectman Hal Clark said at the meeting that the trail will be an amenity to the town. He said itl will travel past many of Wilton’s corporate offices, which will be beneficial to workers and make the municipality appear more desirable for companies. Clark added that people who enter the trail will think they are deep inside a forest away from society. “They’re going to suddenly feel like their 250 miles away from New York City. Sesto said schools like Wilton High School will also be capable of conducting science lessons on the trail to enhance classes. According to Brennan, visitors to the trail will be able to walk, ride their bikes or even ride horses on it if interested. “We think it’s really important to get a demonstration section on the ground not only for Wilton and our own fundraising program, but for the NRVT as a whole,” said Sesto. Hundreds came out to Hanover Pond on Sunday, October 13 for the grand opening ceremony of the Gorge Trail on Oregon Road. Walking tours took place on Sunday that featured information on the trees along the trail and another tour on the history of Meriden and the trail. Learn more about the trail here. The Torrington Trails Network, Northwest CT YMCA and Torrington Historical Society is looking to put together a group of volunteers to help cut out a 3/4 mile hiking trail at the John Brown Birthplace. The groups are looking to do this on October 26. If you are interested in finding out more information and/or volunteering, contact the Torrington Trails Network via e-mail at: ttn@nwcty.org
WFSB reports there will be a delay in the expansion of the Linear Trail expansion in Cheshire. Artifacts were uncovered in the area the town plans to expand. Apparently rocks, which could date back to before the Colonial era were found in a parking lot at the trail. It leads officials to believe people had lived or hunted there centuries ago. Before construction can start again a team of archeologists will study the area. View the news video here.
It’s October, and that also means it is Walktober!
Walktober was designed to get more people out and walking and exploring. Walking can be fun! There are a wide variety of guided walks taking place throughout the state this month. So get your friends and family together and start walking! Here is a list of only some of the fun walking events in Connecticut is October, ooops…I mean Walktober! Walktober Starting October 2-28, various times Cost: Free Twenty-eight towns are offering more than 100 free walks that highlight the region’s historical, cultural, agricultural and natural treasures. www.tlgv.org Autumn Bird Walk October 5, 7 a.m. Cedar Hill Cemetery, 453 Fairfield Ave., Hartford, CT Cost: Free Join Joan Morrison, Professor of Biology and Environment Science at Trinity College, for an autumn bird walk at Cedar Hill. She will discuss her work studying urban birds and their habitats. www.cedarhillfoundation.org Walktober: Living Off the Land in Colonial Times October 5, 1 p.m. Nathan Hale Homestead, 2299 South St., Coventry, CT Cost: Free Participants will take a 1.5 mile walk in the footsteps of the Hales through fields and forest. www.ctlandmarks.org Weekly Bird Walk October 8, 8 a.m. Connecticut Audubon Society of Pomfret, 218 Day Rd., Pomfret, CT Cost: $7 Join Andy Rzeznikiewicz as he points out various bird species. www.ctaudubon.org Walk to School Day October 9 As part of International Walk to School Day, thousands of kids and their parents worldwide will walk to school. http://www.bikewalkct.org/walk-to-school-day.html Sunday Strolls: Bushnell Park Family Walking Tour October 12, 10-11:30 a.m. Butler-McCook House & Garden, 396 Main Street, Hartford, CT Cost: $20 families (2 adults and any number of children); or $10 per person Explore Bushnell Park and its hidden treasures with your family and take a ride on the historic carousel. www.ctlandmarks.org Lantern Tour of the Plymouth Burying Ground October 12, 7 p.m. Plymouth Green, 10 Park St., Plymouth, CT Cost: Adults $5; Children Free Learn about the symbolism of the engravings and how the inscriptions tell us what life was like in colonial Connecticut during this walking tour of the green. www.plymouthlandtrust.org Memento Mori Cemetery Tour October 13, 1-3 p.m. Barney Library, 71 Main St. Farmington, CT Cost: $15 This walking tour will explore Farmington’s ancient burial ground. www.stanleywhitman.org Penguin Run/Walk October 19, 9-11 a.m. Mystic Aquarium, Mystic, CT Participate in a 5K run or a two-mil walk to benefit the endangered African penguins. http://www.mysticaquarium.org/visit/calendar/details/161-penguin-runwalk Tour of East Plymouth and Tory Den October 19, 1-4 p.m. Plymouth Historical Society Museum, 572 Main St., Plymouth, CT Cost: Free (pre-registration required). This tour will explore the little-known village of East Plymouth, home of Tory families during the Revolutionary War. The tour includes a 1-mile walk along the Blue Trail to Tory Den, where a historic visitor once inhabited the cave. www.plymouthhistoricalsociety.org Fall Foliage Hike October 20, 1:30 p.m. Sleeping Giant State Park, Hamden, CT Cost: Free Hike along the trails of Sleeping Giant and enjoy the beautiful autumn foliage. The hike is expected to last 3 hours. http://www.sgpa.org/hikes/hikes.html Cedar Hill’s Haunted History Lantern Tour October 25, 6-9:30 .m. Cedar Hill Cemetery, 453 Fairfield Ave., Hartford Cost: $12 This is the only night of the year you can explore the cemetery when it is dark. Led by lantern light, during this stroll, attendees will visit the final resting places of some of Cedar Hill’s most notable and not-so-notable residents. www.cedarhillfoundation.org Introduction to Hiking in the Giant Hike October 27, 1:30 p.m. Sleeping Giant State Park, Hamden, CT Cost: Free Learn about the park’s many hiking trails, how to navigate the park and clothing and equipment that is needed for a safe and enjoyable hike. The hike is expected to last 3 hours. http://www.sgpa.org/hikes/hikes.html Legends & Hauntings October 27 Cost: Fee & Pre-registration is required Fairfield Museum and History Center, 370 Beach Rd., Fairfield This walking tour will explore the haunting legends and folklore of Fairfield. http://www.fairfieldhistory.org American Trails will hold a webinar tomorrow (September 25) titled "Introduction to Trail Maintenance Management. This is Part 1 of a 3 part series of webinars on Trail Maintenance. The webinar will present ideas on how to improve your trail management plan (if you already have one in place), or if you are considering developing one, you will get the information you need to make good decisions on how to move forward with your plan. The additional webinars of this series includes: • Natural Surface Trail Tread Maintenance - October 24. • User Conflict - February 2014. Each webinar is $45 for American Trail members and $75 for non-membres. Click here for more information and to register. The Last Green Valley will hold the 23rd annual Walktober event in October, which will include free walks, hikes, paddles, bike rides, tours and other events, that will highlight the historic, cultural and natural resources of the 35-town National Heritage Corridor that covers Connecticut and Massachusetts Walktober will feature 106 events. You can view all the events in a brochure here. Each event is labeled as easy, moderate or difficult. Other information in the brochure includes which events are kid and family friendly, as well as dog friendly. A public hearing is scheduled for September 12 in Trumbull to discuss adding 4.1 miles to the Pequonnock River Trail with a link from Taits Mill Road in Trumbull Center to Beardsley Park in Bridgeport, reports the Connecticut Post.
The expansion plan is to create synergies between neighborhoods and the shopping area. The trail currently links Trumbull to Monroe and Newtown and is approximately 20 miles. The public hearing will take place at Frenchtown Elementary School in Trumbull at 7 p.m. Click here for more information. |
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