Merrymeeting Trail - Project Update

Merrymeeting Trail

Project Update - December 1, 2009

Current Activities:

The activities we are currently working on to further the planning of this project are:

§         The group is working on obtain matching funding for the $20,000 Regional Challenge Grant that have been selected to received from the State Planning Office to support the development of a corridor study of the proposed route for the Merrymeeting Rail-Trail.

Ø      The Towns of Bowdoinham & Richmond have agreed to give $1,000 each towards the cash match.

Ø      MCOG has applied for a grant from the Merrymeeting Bay Trust.

§         Midcoast Council of Governments has received funding from the Maine Department of Transportation for the planning of the Merrymeeting Trail.

§         A workgroup has been formed to work on the Corridor Study and is in the process of creating their work plan.

§         A workgroup has been formed to research various regional organizational structure models that could be used by the four municipalities in the future for the construction/management of the trail.

§         We are also in the process of developing a plan and materials for public outreach. 

§         Kennebec River Network and Healthy Communities of the Capital Area have agreed to create a webpage for this project on their website until we can obtain the funding to create our own website.

§         The group is in the process of working on the development of a logo for the project.  MDOT had provided some logos for our review and Brian Kent has agreed to work with the group to create a logo for the project.

History to Date:            

Regular meetings of the Merrymeeting Trail Initiative have been held since May 2008 to scope out the project. Some of the presenters and accomplishments, in chronological order, include:

§         Developed a Work Plan that is updated on a regular basis as plans evolve and progress is made.

§         Developed a Stakeholder/Interested Parties list that is updated on a regular basis

§         Presentation from Sally Jacobs about the Downeast Sunrise Trail

§         Developed Memorandum of Agreement and secured support of municipalities

§         Met with Dan Stewart, State Bike and Pedestrian Coordinator

§         Selected preferred trail corridor

§         Started the planning process for the railroad corridor using GIS data

§         Obtained maps of the railroad right-of-way from Maine Department of Transportation

§         Created Strategic Project Outline

§         Started organizing four workgroups: Organizational structure, Corridor planning, Funding, Public Outreach

§         Obtained other corridor study plans to research existing models

§         MDOT has created an aerial map of the trail corridor.

§         Midcoast Council of Governments has applied for and received a $20,000 Regional Challenge Grant from the State Planning Office to support the development of a corridor study of the proposed route for the Merrymeeting Rail-Trail.

§         The group has been chosen to receive some assistance from the National Park Service for their River, Trails, & Conservation Assistance Program. 

Project Stakeholders:

The municipalities of Topsham, Bowdoinham, Richmond and Gardiner have all signed a Memorandum of Agreement in support of their municipal staff, municipal committees, and residents working together in the planning for this regional trail system. 

Organizations that are currently involved and/or interested in supporting this project include:

§         Midcoast Council of Governments

§         Kennebec Valley Council of Governments

§         Kennebec Estuary Land Trust

§         Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust

§         Kennebec River Network

§         East Coast Greenway Alliance

§         ACCESS Health

§         Healthy Communities of the Capital Area

§         Cathance River Education Alliance

§         Maine Downtown Center/Maine Development Foundation

§         Bicycle Coalition of Maine