Group Seeks $227K for Rail Trail Paving

Londonderry Trailways is seeking community support for a warrant article to raise $227,000 for a project to pave one mile of the Rail Trail.

“We’re trying to squeeze blood from a stone right now from any grants we can get,” Bob Rimol, who sits on the Trailways board of directors, told the Town Council in a presentation at its Jan. 7 meeting.

Unfortunately, Rimol said the transportation enhancement grants used to build up trails in the neighboring communities of Derry and Windham may not be available until as late as 2017.

“We’re trying to make notable progress as asked for by so many citizens without being tied down to slow and low federal funding,” Trailways Vice President Sandra Lagueux said.

As grant funding runs dry, the Trailways group is looking to corporations for support. But Rimol told the council most corporations that have considered investing in paving the Rail Trail have expressed a desire to “see something a little more concrete.”

Rimol told the council the town’s investment in paving the portion of the Rail Trail from Sanborn Road to Symmes Drive could serve as a catalyst for the completion of future projects by capturing the interest of potential donors.

“Success breeds success,” he said.

So far, with funding from private donors and companies, the Trailways group has successfully completed extensive clean-up and brush removal on the trail, as well as a $10,000 preliminary engineering study. Cleaning, prepping, grading, and tree removal on the trail was funded by a $20,000 New Hampshire Recreation Trails grant.

The Trailways group's proposed $227,000 one-mile paving project includes the cost of engineering work, grading of one-mile of the trail, putting down of a sub base, and installation of asphalt. The warrant article submitted by the group was the only petitioned warrant article submitted by Tuesday's deadline. If approved, it would result in a tax rate impact of $0.07 in Fiscal Year 2014 based on projected assessed values, according to the town.

“The plan has broken the trail down into segments. It’s easier to go after the low-hanging fruit and complete the easier sections,” Rimol told the council. “Right now construction is cheap. It’s an opportune time to take advantage of this opportunity.”

Several residents spoke in favor of supporting the Trailways efforts to pave the six-mile Rail Trail, which would connect Londonderry’s trail to Manchester.

Dan Watson of 10 Manasquan Circle, who rides his bike to work in Massachusetts in the warmer months, said local Rail Trails “link communities together.

“It would be great to tie all these trails together,” he said. “There are a whole host of benefits.”

Stacy Thrall of 9 Crosby Lane said she and her husband enjoy walking on the Derry and Windham rail trails and would like to see paving expanded into Londonderry.

Rimol said the Trailways group is “knocking on doors every day” in search of funding for work that will satisfy the needs of Rail Trail patrons. But without the town’s financial support for the one mile paving project, Rimol and Lagueux expressed concern that the entire six mile paving project may stall.

Town Council Chairman John Farrell suggested the Trailways group approach the Conservation Commission about potentially funding the project with money for open space.

Rimol received the advice with enthusiasm, noting that an investment in paving the Rail Trail would get residents out and enjoying the town’s open space.

Lagueux said the Trailways group will continue to pursue other grants through the remainder of the paving project and will continue to exhaust all ideas on securing funding, including the council’s suggestion to request funds from the Conservation Commission.

“We are fundraising every day, approaching companies every day,” Rimol said. “If we have this warrant article pass, maybe we can pave more than just this mile.”

For more information about Londonderry Trailways or to make a donation through PayPal for the paving project, visit www.londonderrytrails.org.