Salem NH Hopes To Start Work Soon On Rail Trail

Bicycle, Pedestrian Path Will Be Part Of 80-Mile Trail

SALEM, N.H. -- Work is expected to start soon to clear the way for a bicycle and pedestrian trail along a former railroad track in southern New Hampshire.

The work in Salem will be part of an 80-mile rail trail from Lawrence, Mass., to Lebanon, N.H.
The Eagle-Tribune reported that the town and New Hampshire Department of Transportation still need to negotiate agreements for use of the former Boston & Maine Railroad tracks.

Salem selectmen voted Monday to finalize the details with the state.

The rail trail, proposed more than a decade ago, extends 5.1 miles through Salem. The trail passes through Windham, Derry and Londonderry.

Source: http://www.wmur.com/news/31036066/detail.html#ixzz1uTXIOG5y 


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Salem rail trail work could finally start soon

By Doug Ireland

SALEM — There's hope at the end of the trail for a local project that's been years in the making.

Work is expected to begin soon to clear the way for Salem's portion of a bicycle and pedestrian trail that would someday extend about 80 miles from Lawrence to Lebanon.

But first, the town and state Department of Transportation need to negotiate agreements for use of the former Boston & Maine Railroad tracks.

Salem selectmen voted unanimously Monday to authorize Town Manager Keith Hickey to finalize the details with the state.

The rail trail, proposed more than a decade ago, extends 5.1 miles through Salem. The trail passes through Windham, Derry and Londonderry as well.

The Nevada-based Iron Horse Preservation Society has offered to remove part of the old track and would start when given the word, Salem community development director William Scott said.

The nonprofit organization of train enthusiasts volunteers its services, funding the work through the sale of old tracks and equipment for the preservation of historic railroads.

The group has been working on the rail trail in Methuen.

But negotiating the necessary agreements could take a while, according to David Topham of the Salem Bike-Ped Corridor Committee.

Approval is needed from the DOT, the attorney general's office and the Executive Council, he said.

Topham is optimistic, but the big question that remains is when work would begin.

"We don't feel there is any major obstacle at all," he said. "It just takes a while to push the paperwork through."

Windham and Derry are mostly done with their portions of the trail, he said. Scott said he will meet with Windham officials in the next week.

Londonderry is early in the process. The project will be funded through a $1.27 million federal transportation grant requiring a 20 percent local match. Salem must raise roughly $220,000 through private sources, Topham said.

"The town is basically looking for the funds to come up with the match money," he said. "The money is not coming from the taxpayers."

Linda Harvey, also a member of the Salem Bike-Ped Corridor Committee, has been pushing for the project since 1999. She said she will be glad when work finally begins.

"I will be relieved to see something happening," Harvey said.

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Source: http://www.eagletribune.com/newhampshire/x241727125/Salem-rail-trail-work-could-finally-start-soon


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