After years of community effort and stalled progress, Newtown recently made a significant leap forward in its efforts connecting to the Pequonnock/Housatonic Rail Trail network, which currently stretches 16 miles from Monroe to Bridgeport.

The long-anticipated extension has recently overcome a legal hurdle that delayed its advancement for over two decades. A newly awarded license now allows the trail to traverse private property owned by the Housatonic Railroad Company (HRRC), marking a crucial step toward the project’s realization.

The plan to extend the regional Rail Trail network into Newtown will give residents local access to a recreational resource cherished by walkers, cyclists, and outdoor enthusiasts in neighboring towns. The existing trail network offers scenic routes that wind through forests, alongside rivers, and past historic landmarks along the former Housatonic Railroad line.

“This is a big win for Newtown residents,” said Greg Carnrick, a local advocate who has long been among those collaborating to make this key piece of the trail extension a reality. “For years, the Town faced roadblocks — an abandoned rail spur, environmental concerns at the Batchelder industrial site, and privacy issues from nearby homeowners. But now, we’ve taken a major step forward.”

Earlier this year, Carnrick initiated discussions with Newtown Parks and Recreation Director Amy Mangold about enhancing the existing trail off Swamp Road, aiming to spark public interest in the broader vision of connecting the trail to Fairfield Hills. Despite receiving positive feedback, a clear path forward remained uncertain due to various challenges involved.

Following months of research and with assistance from Brautigam Land Surveyors, a multi-phased proposal was crafted to allow the trail extension to bypass the Batchelder site until environmental remediation could be completed. However, moving forward required approval from both the Housatonic Railroad Company and the Connecticut General Assembly.

At that critical point, State Representative Mitch Bolinsky and Newtown’s Director of Economic and Community Development John Voket stepped in to lend their advocacy to the effort, providing crucial support to help overcome these challenges.

“At one point, the project felt dead in the water; there were just too many challenges,” Carnrick recalled. “Thankfully, I was very fortunate to connect with John Voket. He saw not only the recreational value of the trail but also the economic advantages of improving non-vehicle transportation in town.

“John was able to make contact with a representative at the Housatonic Railroad Company who was intrigued with our proposal, and suddenly, there was a real possibility of success,” Carnrick added.

Parker Rodriguez, HRRC’s Associate General Counsel and an outdoor enthusiast himself, visited the site with Carnrick, Voket, and Bolinsky. Seeing the potential benefits for the community, Parker also became involved in the process eventually leading to the railroad company granting the Town of Newtown a temporary license to proceed with the pedestrian crossing needed to bypass the Batchelder site.

He also drafted a letter of support to the Connecticut General Assembly for a proposed bill necessary to satisfy the legislative requirements of a new railroad crossing.

The Housatonic Railroad Company in a statement issued through Rodriguez’ office said, “We are pleased and excited to facilitate the use of a portion of railroad property to provide access to the Pequonnock/Housatonic Rail Trail in Newtown.” The statement continued, “Newtown is a vital part of Housatonic Railroad’s freight system and has been for the better part of thirty years. Housatonic Railroad is grateful for the opportunity to give back to a community in which it operates freight transportation, and being outdoor enthusiasts ourselves, we look forward to enjoying this trail with the people of Newtown and surrounding towns.”

Carnrick added, “Mitch Bolinsky has been incredibly supportive from the moment I first spoke with him about this project. He not only met with representatives from the railroad, but also consulted with legislative leaders in Hartford, coordinated with the Connecticut Department of Transportation, and worked closely with state attorneys to ensure every legal detail was handled properly. He knew how important this was for the town and went above and beyond to keep the project on track.”

To address privacy concerns from residents near the trail, it was agreed that a dirt berm would be added wherever possible to shield nearby homes from the trail. Newtown Land Use Director Rob Sibley, who has championed the Rail Trail extension for more than 20 years, shared his excitement about the recent progress.

“This is a wonderful step forward to creating a connection from the southern rail trail traversing Monroe, Trumbull and Bridgeport and the center of Newtown with its extending trail system,” Sibley said.

Final Review: Environmental Land Use Restriction (ELUR)

Just when it seemed that all obstacles to the trail’s extension had been cleared, Sibley recalled the possibility that the entire property might be subject to an Environmental Land Use Restriction (ELUR) — despite contamination being confined to specific areas. ELURs are measures established by CT DEEP to ensure the safe management and use of land with historical contamination.

Newtown Health District Director Donna Culbert is also among the group of local officials optimistic about the project’s progression. Culbert emphasized her eagerness to see the project move forward without delay and believes that with proper precautions, the trail extension can proceed safely.

Voket is preparing an application to DEEP to secure agency guidance in reviewing the revised trail location. With a new route designed to avoid all contaminated areas associated with the Batchelder site, DEEP approval is hopefully on the horizon. Once DEEP provides its approval, the Newtown Bike and Trail Committee, working closely with the Parks and Recreation Department, will focus on securing grant funding for the construction phase, expected to begin in 2025.

Newtown’s connection to the regional Rail Trail is anticipated to bring long-lasting regional and community benefits, not only enhancing outdoor recreational opportunities but also boosting the town’s appeal as a destination for nature lovers and cyclists.

Newtown First Selectman Jeff Capeci noted, “This connection to an extensive trail system will ultimately stretch from the Long Island Sound to the Massachusetts border and beyond, providing residents and visitors alike with unparalleled access to outdoor recreational opportunities. I look forward to celebrating this achievement with the Newtown community when we officially cut the ribbon.”

Bolinsky agreed. “I couldn’t be more excited about the extension of the Pequonnock/Housatonic Rail Trail into Newtown,” the state lawmaker said. “This is a major win for families, cyclists, and outdoor enthusiasts alike. Working together with the Housatonic Railroad Company and Newtown First Selectman Jeff Capeci, we’ve reached a conceptual agreement and secured the necessary licensing at no cost to taxpayers. This marks a tremendous milestone for Newtown.”