With approval by the State Department of Transportation (DOT), the Newtown Rail Trail has cleared a major hurdle, according to Greg Carnrick, who has been shepherding the project along with State Representative Mitch Bolinsky. The two presented the information to the Board of Selectmen at its September 15 meeting.

The Rail Trail project has been in the works since the 1990s, according to Carnrick. The State Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) has previously approved a crossing by the trail of the railroad, and now DOT has approved the crossing as well. This will permit the trail to cross the Housatonic Railroad property, as well as the railroad itself. Carnrick stated he had been waiting for the approval for nine months.

“This was the bottleneck,” said Carnrick.

Carnrick said there may need to be some permitting by the Town of Newtown, possibly Inland Wetlands, but Carnrick said Land Use Director Rob Sibley has been “very supportive.”

Carnrick estimated that the work needed to support the trail would cost approximately $200,000, and would include a guardrail, new fencing, signage, a mile of dirt to lay on the trail, and removal of the railroad track. He would be looking to solicit funding from donors, and has a local business that has stated it will match donations up to $50,000. Carnrick said at one time the hope was to get grants, but he said Monroe has been waiting more than seven years to receive state grants for their trail, and a new round of funding was “never released this year.”

Bolinsky said the approvals and the $200,000 would mark a starting point.

“This is a very exciting project that has been noodled for many years,” said Bolinsky. “The state is also very excited, particularly DEEP. DOT is looking to facilitate it.

While the trail project has hit a snag in that needed legislation is moved to 2026, Bolinsky said that getting things going and “putting a shovel in” will make the project “real,” and start the donation and grant process.

Bolinsky said he hoped the project would also attract DEEP interest towards remediation of the Batchelder property, a now town-owned property that the trail crosses through but has contamination on site. Bolinsky said that most of the contamination is capped in the old building, but it is dangerous.

“There’s an eight foot fence and barbed wire there for a reason,” Bolinsky said.

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.

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-phase proposal was crafted to allow the trail extension to bypass the Batchelder site until environmental remediation could be completed. Moving forward required approval from both Housatonic Railroad Company and the Connecticut General Assembly, however.

The Board of Selectmen took no action on the Rail Trail, as the presentation was only for their information and for the public’s information.

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Editor Jim Taylor can be reached at jim@thebee.com.