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The Piscataquog Trail is the western most rail trail proposed/existing recreational trail. It provides a link from the Heritage Trail and Riverwalk to the west side of the Merrimack River leading into the Town of Goffstown. This trail will utilize the abandoned Boston and Maine Railroad corridor.
The Heritage Trail is envisioned as a “Rail plus Trail” option, where the active freight railroad corridor and envisioned rail trail would share the corridor ROW. The Heritage Trail consists of two legs of the former Boston and Maine Railroad hub. It travels in the north/south direction following the Merrimack River.
The South Manchester Rail Trail is a proposed bike/pedestrian path that would connect the downtown “Millyard” area of Manchester to the Town on Londonderry. The South Manchester Rail Trail will utilize the existing Right-of-Way (ROW) of the abandoned Boston and Maine Rail.
The Rockingham Trail is a proposed paved trail that would connect the center of the City of Manchester to the Town of Auburn. The Rockingham Trail will utilize the existing Right-of-Way (ROW) of the abandoned Boston and Maine Railroad corridor. The Rockingham Trail will originate at it’s intersection with the South Manchester Trail on its west end and to the Rockingham Trail - Portsmouth Branch, an existing gravel trail in the Massabesic Lake region, on its east end.
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Our Goals
Our primary goal is to complete the trails within Manchester, as well as connect those trails to the surrounding communities including Bedford, Goffstown, Hooksett and Londonderry. Manchester Moves, Inc. seeks to be the central point of communication between the City of Manchester and the surrounding suburbs in all things related to walkways. The existing trail systems are substantial, but many portions remain disconnected.
Manchester Moves strives to reconnect and complete these trails. In doing so, Manchester Moves, Inc. wishes to assist the City of Manchester with opening railway beds that have been land-locked, seeking private and public funding sources to build new walkways on abandoned railway beds, completing those walkways that have already been designed and partially funded and securing funding for walkways that are on the drawing board but have no funding to date.
We are encouraging companies located along the Merrimack River to design, fund and establish walkways between their buildings and the river, thereby establishing a seamless, interconnecting pathway for all to enjoy, while at the same time stimulating economic development in and around these areas. In some cases a surrounding town has already established their own network of walkways, yet there exists no connection to the city of Manchester. We will work to make that connection a reality. The City of Manchester is in contention for one of approx two dozen $50M grants to be awarded for trails. Read about it here…
Above all, we wish to be a conduit of information and support for organizations such as:
- The City of Manchester
- Railway administration
- Federal and State government agencies
- Local alternative transportation / trail-related sporting goods retailers
- Trail organization and interest groups
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