.... remove the railroad track .... build a walking/bicycle trail!

[jbolty]

Originally Posted by mishman

Hesitant to wade into these shark infested waters but how many of these commenters have been on a well maintained bicycle trail in a tourism hot spot like our lake?
I admit that I don't know the number of train riders but I would wager many, many times more people (locals and tourists) would use the trail for hiking and cycling than train riders. These bike trails generate lots of tourism dollars as people want healthy forms of recreation. You can see it all around the country.
I have ridden bike trails in FL, on the west coast and principally in New England. Almost without exception, businesses along rail trails love the business these trails generates. Cyclists and walkers stop for refreshments, meals, a beer (or two) and come back again and again. Cycling is easy on the joints and I know many cyclists in their 70s who easily do 20 miles daily (especially along rail trails with their modest grade changes).
I would like to see trail accommodate more people than the limited numbers of train riders - and I have nothing against trains. It is simply a matter of highest and best use of this corridor. Hands down it is for people powered transport.
Well, I guess there is blood in the water now

if people want to get worked up over it that's on them; we're just talking here. The argument in favor of keeping the rails seems to boil down to "it's always been there and thus it shall ever be"

[Cobalt 25]

I live fairly close to the bike trail here on the Cape and my wife tells me we did over 100 miles on the trails in 2020, even though our boats come first. We ate (carefully and socially-distanced) at several of the restaurants and would have done more if not for Covid. As mentioned in previous posts, the Cape bike trails get tons of use.

But we stay at a place in Paugus that has the train going 50 yards from the house and our grandkids love it when it goes by.

I really have no dog in this fight. I like the bike trail AND trains!

Would that we could somehow have both.

[Woodsy]

The WOW trail co-exists with the RR for its entire (current) length. If they want to extend it to the Weirs, then pay the $$$ during construction to co-exist with the RR.

IMHO, It is not in the State/Public best interest to kill a tax paying existing business that is by all accounts doing well even during Covid. Sets a dangerous precedent.

I won't get into the homeless encampments that exist just off the WOW trail now! Just what the Weirs needs.... homeless encampments! Especially along all that very expensive Paugus Bay property!

This is all moot anyway..... pretty sure the RR has a 10yr option to renew coming up and then there will be the STB to deal with.

Woodsy

[MAXUM]

Rip up the rails and turn that trail into an OHRV trail do it all the way up through Franconia Notch and hook it into the Presidential Rec Trail on the back side of Twin Mtn.

That would be awesome! Especially if there was plenty of dual use roads for OHRV use along the way for gas and food stops.

Perfect!

[Trail Goer]

Originally Posted by jbolty

The argument in favor of keeping the rails seems to boil down to "it's always been there and thus it shall ever be"

That's not true at all, the state has converted many railroad lines to trails, one was just recently (or is in the process of being), converted to a trail from Littleton to Whitefield. The difference between that line and this line is very clear though. The line in Littleton had no online shippers, the operator leasing the line gave up its common carrier rights (approved by the STB) and with no operators and shippers showing interest, the state petitioned and was approved by the STB to abandon the line. With two operators leasing the line along Winnipesaukee, there's not much the state can do, even if they wanted to close the line.