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Bike-Walk Alliance of NH ==
Windham Rail Trail Grand Opening September 16, 2006
Good
progress on the Salem-Manchester rail trail
Both the Granite State Wheelmen bicycling club and the Bike-Walk Alliance were well represented at this event with about twelve members attending. GSW member Hetty Andrews and BWA-NH Executive Director Linda Gould were interviewed by a Lawrence Eagle Tribune reporter and had their words in print in the September 17 paper. GSW and BWA co-founder Dave Topham was interviewed by a reporter from the Windham-Pelham News and also had a chance to speak with Governor John Lynch. The Governor gave encouragement for extending the rail trail beyond Windham. He also accepted a yellow BWA-NH "One Less Car" T-shirt and some pens, so now he and his assistant know the BWA-NH is working to incorporate our mutual vision of a rail trail from at least Salem to Manchester.
The first section of the Salem to Manchester rail trail is now paved and was available in June for use by cyclists, walkers, joggers, those in wheelchairs, and horseback riders. A 10-foot paved trail plus a hard-packed dirt sidepath goes from North Lowell Road in Windham (near the Citgo station and Derry town line) to Roulston Road at the Salem end. Once the new Route 111 by-pass consruction is done, the trail will continue to the Salem line (behind Cycles Etc.) at the existing Route 111 and Route 28 intersection. The total length of this Windham Rail Trail will be 4.1 miles with about 3.4 miles presently open. Local residents can access the trail from existing roads while those driving to the trail can park at the old Windham Depot on Depot Road. This trail can be a model for the rest of the Salem-Manchester rail trail plus for other projects in the discussion or design stages. And this Windham trail was created without any state or federal money! For more details and photos, please have a look at our Windham Rail Trail page.
Editorial comment: Another 0.7 mile section of the Salem to Manchester rail trail has been paved and opened to the public in July. This section is in Manchester behind the Home Depot store on South Willow Street and goes south as far as Nutts Pond. Now is the time for us (and that includes you!) to support plans to complete the rail trail all the way from Salem to Manchester. A seemingly realistic southern terminus would be at Route 93 Exit 1 on Rockingham Park Boulevard where the tracks ran parallel to Route 28. There is ample space for parking and facilities such as a small visitor center, rest rooms, snack bar, etc. to allow commuters on the rail trail to access car / van pools to head into Boston on Route 93. Likewise, visitors to New Hampshire would have no problem finding this starting location, have good place to park their cars (especially on weekends), and then cycle north toward Manchester along the rail trail. The tremendous popularity of the Nashua River Rail Trail and the Minuteman Rail Trail is proof that many people need and want such a facility. And let's not forget that using a rail trail reduces pollution, promotes a healthy life style, and saves money by not buying expensive gasoline. Using two pedals on a bike helps a lot more than using a gas pedal in car!
Some forward-thinking people from the Windham Rail Trail Alliance are already thinking of a name for the complete Salem to Manchester rail trail. One name heard is the Granite State Rail Trail. What do you think? What is your suggestion? Again, get involved in the planning and implementation process to help complete this project which will serve many people for many reasons for many generations. Comments may be submitted to the BWA-NH at info@bwanh.org. (Editorial by Dave Topham, BWA-NH office.)
