Limited Snowmobile Access to Goffstown’s Rails Trail

Tuesday, March 9, 2010 is town voting day. Appearing on the ballot will be two articles of great concern to residents. Article #16 - To see if the town will vote to authorize snowmobiles shared use of the Goffstown Rail Trail from the power line right-of-way, where the New Hampshire Snowmobile Trail Corridor #11 crosses the Rail Trail at Glen Lake, opposite the Villa Augustina School, to the Shell gas station on Tatro Drive. 

Article #23: To see if the town will vote to direct the Board of Selectmen to put in place an ordinance to allow snowmobiles on the Goffstown Rail Trail in accordance with Trail Enhancement Grant received by the Town of Goffstown by the Federal Government and in accordance with the state trail management guidelines, starting at the intersection of Danis Park Road to the end of the trail in the center of town. 

There are a number of reasons why these two articles should be voted down with a NO vote. Lowell Von Ruden, President of the Friends of the Goffstown Rail Trail, says the trail has been promoted for non-motorized vehicle use since its inception in 2004, because it travels through residential areas. “There will be additional loud noise and potentially speeding snowmobiles through a lot of the residential areas where there are houses very close to the Rail Trail. The trail is used in wintertime by cross country skiers, snowshoers and walkers. Having a mix of pedestrians and fast moving motorized vehicles is always a hazard.” 

Many snowmobilers enjoy riding their machines at night. Can you imagine listening to the noise from them at night? One person suggested to me that perhaps a time limit could be set to eliminate night operation on the trails. The question is, who is going to enforce such a rule? Certainly not our police department. 

The $348,000 federal Transportation Enhancement Grant used to purchase the approximately five mile railway bed in 2004 does allow for the use of snowmobiles, but only under certain circumstances. According to Von Ruden, “The Transportation Enhancement rules for the trail funding says that no motorized vehicle use is allowed. They make an exception for snowmobiles in winter conditions, provided that the local governing authority approves. It’s not an automatic thing, it’s not a right.” 

Motor bikes, motor cycles, ATVs, or any other motorized vehicles, are currently not allowed to use the Goffstown Rail Trail. If we make an exception for snowmobiles, then you’d have to make an exception for all other motorized vehicles to use the trails and this would impose a dangerous situation to others who currently use the trails for walking, bicycle riding, skiing or snowshoeing. I hope that voters will vote NO to Town Articles #16 and #23. 

Bob Harris can be reached via e-mail at: outwriter2@aol.com

Past Columns by Bob Harris  >>>

About Bob Harris  >>>