New Haven Finally Connects With Hamden

by Melinda Tuhus | April 7, 2009 8:05 AM | | Comments (14)

hamden%20bike%20commuter.JPGTalk of a “golden spike” permeated the celebration of the New Haven section of the Farmington Canal Rail Trail that will connect with Hamden’s eight miles, and then on into Cheshire…and then, the world.

katrina%20and%20mayor.JPGMaybe it wasn’t as momentous as the Golden Spike that joined the Central Pacific and Union Pacific railroads in 1869, creating the first U.S. transcontinental railroad. But Newhallville Alderwoman Katrina Jones (pictured with Mayor John DeStefano), through whose ward this stretch of the rail trail passes, was imagining new horizons as she described plans to get a new bike (her previous one was stolen last year) and set out on great adventures.

“We have a part of history here — this canal being revitalized for another use, but a use for all people, that can mend and bring neighborhoods together. I’m looking forward to the completion linking it to Hamden,” she added, “so I can do some traveling.”

karyn%20gilvarg%20with%20map.JPGCity Plan director Karyn Gilvarg (pictured) thanked all the people who have brought the rail trail along thus far. Mayor DeStefano summed up by saying this project is an example of “regional cooperation, institutional cooperation, and cooperation over time” — more than two decades. “It is interesting to me that this trail that started as an economic development corridor in the 1840s is still going to serve that purpose.” (Actually, the canal, from New Haven to Northampton, Mass., functioned from 1828 to 1848, and then was converted to a rail line, which was abandoned around 1987.) Click here for a background story.

The mayor continued, “The major employers of the region at Science Park and at the university [Yale] are going to be immediately accessible by this trail.” In other words, the rail trail won’t be just for recreation — though it serves that purpose for thousands of area residents — but will also be for transportation.

shoveling%20dirt.JPGPictured in the obligatory shovel photo are, from left to right, Dave Barone, City Plan senior program manager; Mayor DeStefano; Alderwoman Jones; David Schaefer, head of Hamden’s Farmington Canal Commission; Lisa Fernandez, president of the Farmington Canal Rail to Trail Association; and Lou Mangini, from U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro’s office. DeLauro helped get the federal funding in place, which comprises 80 percent of project costs, with the city providing the rest.

Hamden resident Tim Nottoli (pictured at top of story) has already been using part of the trail to commute to his job in New Haven. He rode it once it was graded, before it was even paved. “It hooks up with my street in Hamden and I can ride it all the way in,” he said. “I just wish, though, that there would be a better route from where it crosses through New Haven down towards the medical school, because that takes you through downtown New Haven, and it’s not beautiful, but I’ve managed it this long.”

This half-mile section — to the Hamden line — is due for completion in about six months. Meanwhile, the most southerly portion of the trail in Hamden is done but for curb cuts and some plantings, which should be finished this spring.







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Comments

Posted by: Nan Bartow | April 7, 2009 9:33 AM

We've been waiting a long, long time for this trail. Finally, it's close to completion!!

Posted by: anon | April 7, 2009 9:51 AM

Great work! I hope the sections through downtown can be fast tracked. The potential for economic development related to this trail are huge... the city shouldn't wait.

Posted by: jay | April 7, 2009 12:20 PM

hey anon - how about truly celebrating this great accomplishment and not being so negative - you must be a glass half empty kinda person.

much thanks and appreciation to all those who have diligently worked on this project!

Posted by: lance [TypeKey Profile Page] | April 7, 2009 12:51 PM

how long before the first bikejacking?

Posted by: Gerard | April 7, 2009 1:13 PM

Is that Lou Mangini in that picture? That rep is everywhere! Keep up the good work Mr. Mangini!

Posted by: NH Walker | April 7, 2009 1:16 PM

I just walked this New Haven section of the trail on Sunday to the point where it ended. Families and young singles were riding and walking the entire section. Observation on development: there are empty warehouses along here just begging to become artist lofts and beer breweries. Let's get started! In the meantime, to those who comment on crime: come walk with us on the trail. There's no crime there now, no litter, no drug paraphernalia, and the more the public uses the space, the less of a chance there will be of it starting.

Posted by: anon | April 7, 2009 5:13 PM

Trails have been shown in national studies to greatly increase land values and reduce crime. And the trails themselves have no more crime than any other surrounding street or sidewalk.

Posted by: ned | April 7, 2009 6:15 PM

NH Walker,

There is a ton of litter on the section of the trail, in Hamden, near Hamden Plaza. The trail needs some friends, like Friends of East Rock Park. The last time I rode on the Hamden section, I was glad I bought the puncture resistant kevlar tires for my bike. Also, the trail could use some landscaping, i.e. trees, around the storm sewer pond @ Skiff St. ♥

I'd rather have the rails than the trails and fewer cars and more walkable bikeable streets in New Haven...

Posted by: mg | April 7, 2009 7:48 PM

what about the section that is supposed to extend into fair haven? when might we see that one? we've been hearing about it for a loooong time...hopefully it'll get here faster than our ferry st. bridge renovations did.

Posted by: Ben | April 7, 2009 9:22 PM

If you go on Sundays there's usually Gospel blasting out of one or two of the Church's in the NewHallville Section...definitely adds some flavor to the trail.

There are a lot of hard working families in the neighborhood. It would be nice to see outsiders not be so scared to go through there in the near future.

I have not had one problem to date riding my bike along Shelton to get to the trail.

Posted by: robn | April 8, 2009 10:14 AM

LANCE,

Is the term "bikejacking" referring to this?

http://www.nemusclebikes.com/picoverview

Posted by: Ned | April 9, 2009 9:53 AM

SeeClickFix has an open issue regarding garbage along the Canal Trail.
http://www.seeclickfix.com/issues/3796

Posted by: Ned | April 16, 2009 3:28 PM

Another SeeClickFix issue (not mine) about broken glass on the trail making the trail UNUSABLE.

"There are enormous amounts of glass on the trail right now, particularly just south of Division Street. Is this used for a bottle breaking festival every night? The trail is basically unusable."

http://www.seeclickfix.com/issues/3798.html

Posted by: eddie | April 23, 2009 1:57 PM

I will use this often. This trail is a real boon for those of us who bike from New Haven to Hamden with any regularity. Used to be there was no safe route.

Took it for the first time last weekend, and despite some rough patches and a couple spots where I had to ditch and hit the roadway, it was more or less smooth biking. To those who are turned off by riding through Newhallville, I can only say, suck it up. I got a lot of friendly waves and smiles.

What beats me is this: Hollywood came to New Haventwo years ago and turned a good chunk of downtown into 1957 and back in a matter of two weeks or so. Why has it taken 15 years to get to this point on the trail?

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