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Farmington River Trail
| |
|---|---|
| Location | Burlington, CT to Canton, CT Farmington, CT Simsbury, CT |
| Length | 16 miles |
| Trailheads | Farmington Simsbury |
| Use | Biking, Inline Skating, Fishing, Wheelchair Accessible, Mountain Biking, Walking, Cross Country Skiing |
| Difficulty | Easy, level, ADA accessible |
| Surface | Asphalt, Crushed Stone, Dirt, Cinder |
| Hours | Dawn to dusk, year-around |
| Bathrooms | Both trailheads |
The Farmington River Trail (CVRT) is a rail to trail located in Connecticut. The Towns of Burlington, Canton, Farmington and Simsbury, built a 16-mile, multi-use trail known as the Farmington River Trail. The trail will be located on the former railroad bed of the “Canal Line” railroad, the sidewalks of roads and public land. Much of the trail is closely located to the boutiques and restaurants in each of the contributing towns. The trail will be accessible to walkers, runners, cyclists, in-line skaters and cross country skiers.
For most of its length, the trail will consist of a ten-foot wide, handicapped accessible, paved surface, which is open from dawn to dusk year-round. While the trail passes by some of the area’s most attractive landscapes, it also contains the longest stretches of on road riding.
Historical development edit
Historical significance
The Farmington Valley Trails Council (FVTC) was founded in 1992 by Preston Reed of Farmington as a non-profit to promote public awareness of the conversion of the abandoned Canal Railroad into the central Connecticut portion of the multi-use Farmington Canal Heritage Trail (FCHT) and the Farmington River Trail.
Trail’s history and evolution
The rail to trail project of the Farmington River Trail project has been very successful in seeking funding for the design and construction of the trail. Eighty percent of the project cost to date was paid for by the Federal Highway Administration's (FHwA) Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA), Transportation Enhancements Program; administered by the Connecticut Department of Transportation. The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) provided about 20 percent of the funding for portions of the trail in Burlington, Canton and Farmington through the River Restoration Grant Program. The DEP's Municipal Outdoor Recreation Grant Program funded portions of the trail in Canton that are not river related. The balance of the funding was provided by private donations and the participating towns.
Trail development edit
Design and Construction
Farmington announced in February that the town will hire Shultz Corp. to complete the final phase of the Farmington River Trail from Route 4 to the Burlington line. The cost was estimated at around $707,000. The first coat of paving is done and construction was completed in December. Collinsville/Canton is complete up to RT 44 at Lovely Street next to Best Cleaners. The town is has been exploring designs for continuing the the trail north of RT 44. Final construction of a three-phase project on the section that travels a former rail line on the Farmington River from Unionville through Canton has been completed, connecting neighborhoods along the Farmington Valley Greenway and the Multi-Use Trail to two shopping areas and municipal centers.
Community edit
Trail supporters
The CVRT is managed and maintained by -Federal Highway Administration's (FHwA, Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA),
Transportation Enhancements Program; administered by the Connecticut Department of Transportation, The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP):
• [1] (funding)
• [2] (laws and regulations)
• [3] (funding)
• [4] (maintenance)
Safety Tips and Rules
- Obey the Signs: for your safety, there are warning signs located along the trail
- Safety in Numbers: do not travel alone or at night
- Unattended Children: do not leave children unattended
- Closed at Night: please only use the trail from dawn to dusk
- Keep Right: the trail is only 10 feet wide and users may be traveling at high speed
- Pass on the Left: announce your presence when wanting to pass users
- Observe the Rules of the Road
- Yield to Pedestrians: use caution when approaching from the rear as they may be unaware of you coming
- Keep Dogs on a Leash: dogs are welcome but please abide by the rules along the trail
- Respect the Rights of the Neighbors: please do not trespass on people's property along the trail
- Bridge Safety: cross with caution
- Littering: there is no excuse for littering anywhere on the trail
- Vandalism: if you see anyone vandalizing the property, please report them
- Crosswalks: please use them while crossing the street
- Parking: please park in only designated areas
- Poison Plants: be careful of poison ivy and other poisonous plants
- Swimming: is not allowed in the Farmington River
References edit
External links edit
Category:Rail trails in Connecticut Category:National Recreation Trails of the United States