Although Tony Cherolis is on his long-distance bike tour in the Midwest, he continues to keep us informed about Connecticut bike-pedestrian policy, which we greatly appreciate. Read Tony’s Sept 2nd op-ed in CT News Junkie about Rail with Trail in CT. Here’s an excerpt:
One unassuming paragraph in Connecticut’s 2022 legislation will have a big impact on the state’s bike routes and multi-use trails. In the short 2022 legislative session, House Bill 5255, proposed by Connecticut’s Department of Transportation (CT DOT), was passed and signed into law. Four lines of text give the state more options to close gaps in urban and regional multi-use trails. The “Rail with Trail” language gives the CT DOT the choice to unhitch railroad companies from undue liability so cities and towns can pursue unused rail corridor width as parallel multiuse trails. The design of the multi-use trails would include fences and gates when necessary to prevent unsafe use of the still active rail bed… Read the full story.
PS to readers: Be sure to read and vote on options (such as the Griffin Line “rail with trail” proposal shown below) in the CRCOG Greater Hartford Mobility Study.
