The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) will conduct a virtual public information meeting regarding Phase 2 of the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail (Route 72 to Northwest Drive) on Thursday, July 20, 2023 at 7 p.m.

The virtual Public Information Meeting is being held to provide the community an opportunity to learn about the proposed project and allow for an open discussion of any views and comments concerning the proposed project.   

The meeting will take place on Zoom and registration is required. A question and answer (Q&A) session will immediately follow the presentation. The presentation will be recorded.  

Plainville has arranged for a live virtual viewing opportunity of the meeting at the Plainville Public Library.

For instructions on how to access the meeting, ways to provide comments, and how to ask questions, please visit https://portal.ct.gov/DOTPlainville109-176.

“This project will connect the existing five-mile gap on the historical Farmington Canal Heritage Trail, an 81-mile multi-use rail trail located in Connecticut and Massachusetts,” said Connecticut Department of Transportation Project Manager Scott Bushee. “The public is encouraged to share their feedback with the CTDOT project team to be incorporated into the project design.”

The purpose of the project is to construct a multi-use trail known as the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail (FCHT) through the town of Plainville to close a five-mile gap in the Connecticut section of the trail. The Connecticut section of the FCHT consists of 54 miles connecting New Haven through Suffield, terminating at the Massachusetts border. The entirety of the Connecticut trail section is either complete, in construction, or approaching final design, excluding the remaining five-mile gap in Plainville. The five-mile gap is proposed to be closed in three (3) project phases—Phase 2 includes construction of two miles of multi-use trail between Route 72 and Northwest Drive.

There are right-of-way impacts associated with the proposed improvements. Construction will require twelve (12) partial property acquisitions on both town-owned and private properties. All acquired property will be transferred to the town of Plainville upon project completion and following a Property Letter with Acceptance.

Construction is anticipated to begin in the fall of 2025, based upon the availability of funding, acquisition of rights of way, and approval of permit(s). The estimated construction cost for this project is approximately $15.5 million. This project is anticipated to be undertaken with eighty percent (80%) federal funds and twenty percent (20%) state funds.  

Persons with limited internet access may listen to the meeting by calling (877) 853-5257 and enter Meeting ID 880 4467 8717. Persons with limited internet access may also request that project information be mailed to them within one week by contacting William Hogan at William.Hogan@ct.gov or (860) 594-2575. 

Persons with hearing and/or speech disabilities may dial 711 for Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS). This meeting will also be livestreamed on the CTDOT YouTube channel, and no registration is required. Non-English language closed captioning will be available on Zoom and YouTube. The recording will also be posted immediately following the meeting in the list of CTDOT virtual public meetings at portal.ct.gov/ctdotVPIMarchive.

Language assistance may be requested by contacting the CTDOT Language Assistance Call Line (860) 594-2109. Requests should be made at least five business days prior to the meeting.  Language assistance is provided at no cost to the public and efforts will be made to respond to timely requests for assistance. 

Members of the public may submit comments and questions during the two-week public comment period following the meeting. Please direct comments and questions by August 4, 2023  to DOTProject109-176@ct.gov or (860) 594-2020, or to Scott Bushee, Project Manager, at Scott.Bushee@ct.gov or (860) 594-2079. Please reference State Project No. 109-176 in the email or voicemail.