'Peavine' Railway Trail?

Hearing Is August 9

A two-mile trail along the roadbed of the historic Peavine Railroad in Stockbridge would be a beautiful riverside experience for bicyclists, walkers, and horseback riders, believes Cathy Reynolds of Stockbridge.

It would also remove them from a particularly dangerous section of Route 100.

Reynolds and others received a positive hearing from Stockbridge Town Meeting this spring when she floated the idea of a trail from the "Peavine swimming hole" north to the Rochester town line.

That led to the formation of the Peavine Preservation Trail Committee, about a dozen strong, which has been holding regular meetings to come up with a realistic proposal.

On Aug. 9 the Committee will hold a public hearing regarding its intent to apply for a grant from the Agency of Transportation Enhancements Program. The hearing is at 6:30 p.m. at the Stockbridge Town Office located just south of the junction of Rte 107 on Rte 100.

"All community members are welcome to join us and learn more about this valuable project," Reynolds said.

Reynolds told The Herald she started the project last year after she discovered the railroad bed just across the river from her home–and discovered an old piece of rail on her property.

The ties and rails have been removed from the rail bed and the right-of-way has light brush growth, she said.

Rails to Trails

"Rails-to-Trails" projects have been popular all over the country, and several years ago there was a proposal to make a public trail out of the entire Peavine Railroad, which ran from Bethel to Rochester.

That turned out to be too ambitious, as it involved many private property owners, some of whom were opposed.

However, the two-mile section that Reynolds is focusing on is entirely owned by the Green Mountain National Forest, and the Forest Service staff has been cooperative, she said.

There is already parking at the south end of the proposed trail, which is just north of the Route 100 bridge over the White River in Stockbridge.

The Committee decided to end the trail at the Rochester line partly because the railroad bed enters private property at that point and partly because dealing with two towns is twice as hard as dealing with one, she noted.

The biggest challenge is that a bridge would be required over the White River partway up the trail. One of the abutments for the former rail bridge is still in place, but considerable expense will be necessary.

Just how much is one of the things that will be studied by the Department of Transportation, Reynolds noted.

She invited people interested in more information to call her at 767-9940.