Imagine the possibilities...

Update on the Seabrook Rail Trail

Did you know? 

There’s a trail in Seabrook which is part of the 3,000 mile East Coast Greenway, which spans from Key West, Florida all the way to the Canadian border in Calais, Maine.  Currently, the Seabrook section is undeveloped, running along 2.4 miles of an abandoned train rail line which is owned by the state of NH.  It could be so much more – imagine a well-maintained walking/biking path through town, with various entry points or “trailheads” in town. Imagine connections to the library, town parks and schools.

To get a sense for what it could be, you need to look no further than the trail in Salisbury, MA. Thanks to the efforts of a few visionary Seabrook residents who worked in partnership with the Seabrook Firemen’s Association, since 2019 we’ve had a trailhead located behind the old fire station on Route 286 which connects to the Salisbury section of the trail, which was completed in 2021.  If you haven’t walked or biked on the trail, you should really check it out – you can go all the way to Newburyport and Amesbury.  Here’s a picture of the entrance:

Those visionary Seabrook people, also known as the “Friends of the Seabrook Rail Trail”, led by Helen Lalime, have been working on developing the Seabrook trail, as part of a broader project supported by the Rockingham County Planning Commission (RPC) and the NH Department of Transportation (DOT). A newly formed non-profit organization – The New Hampshire Seacoast Greenway Alliance, is working in partnership with the RPC and the DOT on a master plan to complete the 14 mile New Hampshire Seacoast Greenway, starting with a connection to the Salisbury trail in Seabrook and running all the way to Portsmouth. Phase 1, running 8 miles from Portsmouth to the Hampton/North Hampton town line, started construction this spring with federal grant funding.  An additional 1.6 miles from the North Hampton town line to Drakeside Road in Hampton will begin construction next spring. Both of these segments are scheduled for completion in late 2024.  Federal funding is also programmed for the Seabrook section, which is currently slated for design in 2028 and construction in 2030; and the Hampton Falls section, slated for construction in 2032.

What’s next?

Before the NH Department of Transportation will begin the engineering work on the Seabrook section, they will require an agreement with the town of Seabrook.  With agreement from the Board of Selectmen, there may be potential to develop the Seabrook section earlier than the current 2028 start date by pursuing grants or corporate sponsorships.

How can you help?

·       Follow the Seabrook Rail Trail Facebook page to stay connected on next steps and volunteer opportunities.

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064668790484

·       If you support the development of the Seabrook trail, please tell your friends and let the Selectmen know.

Here’s a map which shows the phases; Seabrook section is in orange.