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Should Be Halted

I want more trails and sidewalks for Madison. However, I strongly oppose the 25-mile Shoreline Greenway Trail (SGT) at this time, and I have serious reservations regarding a 4,000-foot segment we are being asked to consider.

This is simply a luxury we can not afford to build, maintain, or continue expanding. The impact of multiple road crossings, utility relocation, and maintenance through the rest of town are extremely large in scope and scale. The full project impacts the entire town and is nothing like the pretty section at Hammonasset. There are maps that can be seen at www.noplannoapproval.com for the whole town.

This is not a good for Madison in any way. My neighbor called it “The Asphalt Way.”

The SGT is fundamentally a recreational group, not a transportation authority. Its proposals were turned away in Guilford and on Liberty Street in Madison and should be halted completely now. Costs are too great, the scale of the project too crazy, and a priority too low when compared to more pressing needs fiscally.

Guilford recently rejected a plan that would travel less than a mile, would connect to absolutely nothing on either end, and would have cost $1 million! I would urge practical Madison residents to follow their lead. The state does not want to face the associated costs that will occur not only in Madison, but in all shoreline towns.

Everyone wants improved safety for residents, cyclists, and runners. I also support improving bike lanes and sidewalks for our towns. Unfortunately, it is not right to waste our precious resources on this any longer.

Cathi Bosco

Madison