Thanks to all who attended the SRRT public meeting on Thursday, June 12, 2008!

Watch for it on Townsend and Groton cable access channels.

The Squannacook River Rail Trail Committee hosted an open public information meeting on the proposed rail trail on June 12, 2008 at the North Middlesex Regional High School. The purpose of the meeting was to present preliminary findings of the environmental and engineering study being undertaken by Fay, Spofford & Thorndike, and to solicit input from Townsend and Groton residents. Approximately 150 residents of Townsend and Groton attended. Our committee appreciates everyone's feedback, and will try to post answers to some questions that were not fully addressed here soon. For those of you unable to attend, we recommend you watch for the meeting to be replayed on your local cable access channel.

Download the draft FST Assessment Report (June 4, 2008)

Draft Squannacook River Rail Trail Environmental and Engineering Assessment (PDF - 13 MB)

Draft Squannacook River Rail Trail Environmental and Engineering Assessment - Appendix A (PDF - 4 MB)

Documents not yet included in draft report: Townsend Conservation Commission comments and Townsend Historical Society comments.

What's near the Squannacook River Rail Trail?

The SRRT won't just be a recreational trail - it will also serve a serious transportation need.  See the many destinations accessible from the proposed rail trail. (Sep. 3, 2007)

Next Meeting

The next meeting will be on Thursday, Aug 21, 2008 from 7 - 8:30 pm at the Nashua River Watershed Association in Groton.  Anyone interested in this project is more than welcome to attend.

Any questions?  Please email us for more information.

The trail behind the Reed Homestead in Townsend.

The Squannacook River Rail Trail is a proposed 3.3 mile recreational trail in Townsend and Groton in Massachusetts.  The trail is planned to begin at the Bertozzi Wildlife Management Area on Townsend Road in Groton, and end at Depot Street in the center of Townsend.  The trail parallels the Squannacook River, and runs next to the Squannacook River State Wildlife Management Area and Townsend State Forest.  It also passes through historic Townsend Harbor, passing three buildings owned by the Townsend Historical Society, the Cooperage, the Grist Mill, and the Reed Homestead.

The trail passing Harbor Pond in Townsend.

The rail line that passes through Townsend leaves the Fitchburg line in Ayer, and is still in use up to Hollingsworth and Vose in Groton.  The rail line continues up into Mason, where it becomes the Mason-Greenville Railroad Trail. A follow-on stage to the Squannacook River Rail Trail could be contemplated later to continue the trail from Depot Road, across the two railroad trestles, to Old Turnpike Road, an additional distance of about 2.4 miles.