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04/03/2018 12:00 AMA safe bike and walking path from Clinton to the planned Shoreline Greenway Trail from Madison to New Haven is one step closer to reality for local outdoor enthusiasts. The Bike and Pedestrian Alliance of Clinton (BPAC) will deliver its final presentation on the project and seek approval from the Board of Selectmen (BOS) on Wednesday, April 18.
BPAC Member Carrie Allen, who has been very involved in the trail efforts since late 2016, said that there have been no changes to the route of the trail since the project was proposed. The Clinton path is proposed to wind through the downtown and town historic areas. The trail will also hopefully feature a “blue way,” which Allen said would in the summer link the bike path with kayak rental locations in the marina area, allowing visitors to explore the town’s shoreline.
After meeting with numerous town boards and commissions, including the Planning & Zoning, Inland Wetlands, and the Economic Development commissions, Allen said that, if approved by the BOS, the trail committee is ready to “put up the street signs overnight.”
“It seems like I had to meet everyone in town. Every step of the process is done,” she added. “I have a lot of confidence it will get done.”
Allen hopes that the trail will be used in the future for events such as triathlons and 5K races.
“For a town interested in transit-oriented development, I think this is a gift,” she said in reference to the increase in people staying in town to walk or bike. “All my friends drive to Hammonasset to walk. I wish they’d stay in Clinton.”
Allen noted that the trail is not funded by taxpayers, and money for the signs raised through donations. When completed, the full path in Clinton will run about 5.5 miles and connect to Madison and Westbrook.
The BOS asked BPAC to begin developing the Clinton trail in March 2017, however the project hit a snag last summer when the previous BOS informed the group they needed input from a lawyer and engineer. The group decided to wait until there was new administration before retrying for final approval this year.