"Confluence" of Efforts Support Canal Trail Expansion

With just two weeks to complete the application for a newly announced grant, the town has submitted a federal funding request that would pay 80 percent of the cost to expand the Rails to Trails pathway from West Main Street to Jarvis Street.

The town requested $1.8 million for the project which, if approved, would require the town to pay 20 percent of the cost, or $360,000. However, Joseph Michelangelo, director of public works and engineering, said the town has also applied for a separate state grant request of $500,000, which could be used to pay the town's balance of the cost from the federal grant.

"There seems to be a confluence of things happening," Town Manager Michael Milone told the Town Council on Tuesday.

He said the state Department of Transportation has now agreed to pay for the design and construction costs of building the canal trail from Cornwall Avenue to West Main Street, a expansion that has been long delayed due to easement concerns. That portion of the trail is less than a mile long but it crosses wetlands and will require raised walkways.

That state has also agreed to give the town five acres of land on Jarvis Street for a parking lot.  

"It's the most used park in town. People from Jarvis (Street) will come to West Main, they'll have access they've never had before," said councilor Andrew Falvey. "The whole area will benefit from having additional people in the area," he said. That portion of the trail would cover just over 1.5 miles.

"We may be out of pocket for very little money and get a large portion of the trail completed," said councilor James Sima. He noted that two historic trolly lines cross the unfinished portion of the trail between Jarvis Street and West Main Street.

"There are beautiful pieces of Cheshire up there that people rarely get to see," said councilor David Schrumm.

"I don't think we're being too optimistic. I think it will come through," said councilor Patti Flynn-Harris. 

The town expects to hear the results of the federal grant request in a couple months. If the two unfinished sections are built, Cheshire would have nearly seven miles of the Rails to Trails Linear Park stretching through town.