The City of Concord, New Hampshire, is in the process of purchasing a 5.8-mile abandoned rail corridor from CSX Railways to convert it into a paved rail trail.

 

The rail trail will be a vital bike and pedestrian connection between Penacook and downtown Concord, which will form almost half of the long-envisioned 12.7-mile long Merrimack River Greenway Trail (MRGT).  The MRGT will be the central connection in statewide rail trail called the Granite State Rail Trail (GSRT).

The rail trail initiative is supported by local residents, the all-volunteer Friends of the MRGT and the City of Concord. Barring further delays, the purchase is expected to be completed before March 2026.​

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The project has faced opposition from Scenic Railriders, a Massachusetts-based company that leases the railbed for a for-profit business. Scenic Railriders proposed keeping the rail for their exclusive use and, instead of the rail trail, building a "rail with trail" alongside it.  The Railriders' plan was rejected by the City Council due to higher costs, safety, certain delays, and environmental concerns.

 

To promote an extension to their lease, Scenic Railriders are now appealing to the New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT) to intervene and grant them a long-term, exclusive, sole source lease.

 

​Friends of the MRGT are gathering signatures to show public backing for the trail and to encourage the NHDOT to continue to support the City’s plan, without further delays.

 

Our goal is to collect 1,000 signatures.  Updates to our progress will be provided as the process continues.