There was so much gloomy news today, that as I sat in my funk, George Cushing, of Frog Pond at the Bartlet Mall, the political consultant for the Newburyport Blog, suggested I concentrate on something happy. Something in the works, something that has funding, something everyone is enthusiastic about.

George Cushing suggested that I blog about the Newburyport Rail Trail, or the Clipper City Rail Trail (its official name).

George Cushing suggesting
I blog on a happy project

So digging through my files, yes, I found the story in the Newburyport Daily News, March 20, 2007 that yes, there was a Public Hearing for the first phase of the Clipper City Rail Trail.

And this is from the MassHighway website:

“The proposed project consists of a one mile path along the former B&M Railroad corridor from Parker Street (at the end of the MBTA Commuter Rail line) to the abutment of the railroad trestle bridge located at the edge of the Merrimack River. This path will consist of a 10′ wide paved surface with connections to local streets. A new pedestrian bridge is proposed at Low Street and the existing railroad Bridge at Merrimac Street will receive a new deck and safety barrier. The path will cross Parker Street and Washington Street at-grade. Proposed improvements at the edge of the river involve modifications to the railroad Bridge abutments and lowering of the rail bed embankment to provide access under Route 1/Gillis Bridge.” (http://www.mhd.state.ma.us/ProjectInfo)

I’m utterly unable to figure out what they are talking about, where the bridge on low street would go, where the path goes exactly… Luckily the Coastal Trail Coalition has a map which you can see if you press here.

According to the MassHighway website, the Estimated cost is $4,162,284. A tidy sum. However, the “project is planned to be funded through the 2007 Transportation Improvement Program for the Merrimack Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization.” Another words state and federal funds. Whew!

How refreshing is that.

And the years and the work and the number of people involved is huge. So, we as a community owe them a great big “thank you.”

And I am very grateful that there is something so successful for me to blog about today.

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

(Editor’s note: Here are two related and very helpful links. The Coastal Trail Coalition and The Essex National Heritage Commission.)