By fletch6 in December, 2010
With the completion of the extension to the Manhan trail in Easthampton the data and maps should be updated. The F.J.Ryan extension west to Leeds is now almost 5 miles of tar and you can go about 1/2 mile more on some dirt too about 1/2 mile from Rt. 9 in the town of Hadenville. Headed south along the west side of the B&M active RR for about a mile to the old station now a restaurant and then winding thru muni. parking lots at the bus station the trail now heads south for another 4 miles for a total of 10 miles in Northampton to the Manhan Rail Trail.
By fletch6 in October, 2010
NORTHAMPTON - The city has inched closer to creating an inter-community network of trails by purchasing a .2-miles stretch of land along the Mill River in Williamsburg.
The property, which was acquired from Laurie B. Farkas for $5,000, would allow for the extension of the Northampton Rail Trail into Williamsburg. The trail currently ends at Grove Avenue in Leeds. Over the past several years, Northampton has bought additional parcels from National Grid and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Springfield that would enable the city to extend the trail to the Northampton/Williamsburg line.
Landowners in Williamsburg have opposed the trail, taking the town to court over its efforts to create a right-of-way. Northampton has given the recently purchased land to Williamsburg with the condition that the city retain an easement that would allow it to create a rail trail in the future. According to city Planning Director Wayne M. Feiden, the property includes 50 feet with a spectacular view of the Mill River. Williamsburg voted overwhelmingly to accept the property at its most recent Town Meeting.
The money for the purchase was donated by Friends of Northampton Trails and Greenways, Feiden said, and did not come out of the city coffers.
With the connector between Easthampton and Northampton almost finished we will soon have a Rail Trail system that will be spectacular.
By Fletch6 in October, 2009
From the east end of the F.P.Ryan and Rt. 5 the first layer of tar is down and is being ridden now. If you park at the stop and shop you can cross rt. 5 and bike south next to the active RR track to the Northampton station and turn behind gleason winding toward the .7 mile rail trail starting just past the Peter Pan bus station. Work has started clearing the ROW south from here to connect with the Manhan at Ferry st. I dont think they will be able to get the bridges done and this part tared before the plants close for the winter but much can be done and could be finished in the spring.