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| New England Greenway | |
|---|---|
| Name | New England Greenway |
| Length mi | 1,200 |
| Location | New England |
| Established | 1990s |
| Trailheads | Multiple |
| Use | Cycling, walking, commuting |
| Surface | Mixed (paved, gravel, rail-trail) |
New England Greenway is a long-distance multiuse corridor traversing the northeastern United States through Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. Designed to link urban centers such as Boston, Providence, and Hartford with rural landscapes including the White Mountains, the Green Mountains, and the Martha's Vineyard corridors, the route integrates rail-trails, canal towpaths, riverbanks, and roadway shoulders. The Greenway connects regional networks like the East Coast Greenway, the Boston Greenway, the Vermont Bike Path Network, and federal programs administered by the National Park Service and the Federal Highway Administration.
The Greenway runs from coastal Portland (Maine), through York County (Maine), skirting the Piscataqua River and crossing into Strafford County, then follows inland corridors near Concord (New Hampshire), passes the Merrimack River, traverses the White Mountains National Forest, skirts Stowe (Vermont) and connects to the Champlain Valley, before entering Windsor County (Vermont), dropping into Berkshire County (Massachusetts), following the Connecticut River corridor past Springfield (Massachusetts), threading through Middlesex County (Connecticut), reaching New Haven, then angles southeast via Providence (Rhode Island) to coastal termini at Narragansett Bay and Newport (Rhode Island). The route incorporates segments of the Housatonic River Walk, the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail, the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail, and the Northern Rail Trail (New Hampshire), and interfaces with protected areas like Acadia National Park and the Appalachian Trail via local spurs.
Initial concepts emerged from regional planners influenced by initiatives such as the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy campaigns and the East Coast Greenway Alliance proposals during the late 20th century. Early pilot projects referenced funding mechanisms from the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 and drew support from state agencies including the Maine Department of Transportation and the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. Prominent civic actors included the Trust for Public Land, The Nature Conservancy, and municipal governments of Boston and Portland (Maine). Major milestones included conversion of the High Line-style urban corridors, railbanking decisions influenced by the Surface Transportation Board, and grant awards from the National Endowment for the Arts for placemaking around corridors in Providence and Hartford.
Management is distributed among entities such as state parks systems (for example, Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation), municipal public works departments in cities like Burlington (Vermont), regional transportation authorities including the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and the Connecticut Department of Transportation, and non-profit stewards such as the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy and local land trusts like the Vermont Land Trust and the Rhode Island Land Trust Council. Coordination occurs through compact agreements modeled on the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission and planning consortia like the Metropolitan Area Planning Council and the Northeast Corridor Commission. Security and emergency response protocols align with services provided by Federal Emergency Management Agency guidelines and local agencies including the Boston Police Department and Providence Fire Department.
The corridor supports commuting flows between suburbs and central business districts including Cambridge (Massachusetts), Somerville (Massachusetts), Newark (New Jersey) connections via the Northeast Corridor (Amtrak), and regional hubs like Manchester (New Hampshire). Modal integration includes bicycle-share programs linked to Bluebikes, transit connections at South Station (Boston), park-and-ride lots coordinated with Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority bus routes, and intermodal links at Union Station (Worcester, Massachusetts). Freight and rail-adjacent sections coordinate with operators such as Pan Am Railways and CSX Transportation under railbanking agreements, while active transportation advocacy groups like Bike Walk Rhode Island and Bicycle Coalition of Maine promote safety and network expansion.
The Greenway traverses ecosystems overseen by agencies and organizations including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and conservation NGOs like Audubon Society of Rhode Island and Mass Audubon. Habitat corridors intersect with wetlands regulated under the Clean Water Act and conservation easements held by entities such as the New England Forestry Foundation. Biodiversity monitoring ties into research from institutions like Harvard Forest, University of Vermont, Yale School of the Environment, and Colby College. Species of interest along the corridor include migratory birds tracked by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, anadromous fish studied by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, and pollinator projects supported by the National Pollinator Garden Network.
The Greenway links cultural institutions and tourist draws including Salem (Massachusetts), Plimoth Patuxet Museums, Martha's Vineyard Museum, Tanglewood, and the Mystic Seaport Museum. It supports festivals and events coordinated with organizations such as Boston Harborfest, Newport Folk Festival, and regional visitor bureaus like Discover New England and state tourism offices. Outdoor recreation partners include the Appalachian Mountain Club, local outfitter networks, and guiding services registered with the National Park Service for adjoining parks. Economic impact studies by regional development agencies such as the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism and Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development document visitor spending and trail-related business growth.
Infrastructure components include bridges rehabilitated with funding from the Federal Highway Administration's Transportation Alternatives Program, trail surfaces maintained by state departments like the Maine Department of Conservation, bike shelters and repair stations supplied by manufacturers contracted through municipal procurement laws, and signage developed in partnership with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. Support facilities encompass trailheads at sites managed by the National Park Service, visitor centers staffed by state tourism agencies, and maintenance depots operated by municipal public works departments. Accessibility improvements follow standards from the Americans with Disabilities Act and design guidance from the U.S. Access Board.
Category:Trails in New England